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Invest in Agriculture to Tackle Unemployment, Youths Urged

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Agroexports

As part of efforts to address the unemployment challenges facing the country, Nigeria youths have been charged to invest in agriculture and harness the useful potentials of the sector.

The advice was given at a recent interactive session organised by the Centre for Ethics and Cultural Orientation (CECO) in Lagos.

Speaking at the one of the resources persons, Pastor Michael Awopetu urged the youths around the country to determine what they aspire to become in life, adding that government needs to provide the right enabling environment to encourage the youths to engage into profitable ventures. According to Awopetu, “agriculture is one important area in which youths can develop themselves.”

He stated that over the years there have been good policy intentions from various governments in power, which were not realised, and therefore “government should provide skills acquisitions programmes to enable these youths gain skills and knowledge. Government should create an internship programme where members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) will venture into agriculture and acquire skills that will enable them make a viable living.”

Awopetu expressed hope that if this is done, it would tackle the food crisis facing the nation, while urging government to see this opportunity as a means to meaningfully empower the youths and change their orientation of depending only on white collar jobs.

“If we want to diversify our economy, we should start from the youths. We should give them practical agriculture for the one year National youth service programme and you will discover that the country will be better. Nigeria has enough land for agriculture and natural resources which can be of immense use to the nation’s economy. Agriculture is a wide area that youths can go into; there is aqua-culture, arable crop production and others.

“Agriculture can be a strong foreign exchange earner for the nation. There is no plan for Nigerian youths and except they take control of their affairs, they will not be able to survive. The main challenge we have in Nigeria is that we conceive ideas, but those ideas are not sustainable. Due to lack of sustainable youth development programmes, we have now youth uprising as the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA).”

In her address, the Sunday Punch Editor, Toyosi Ogunseye, advised the Nigeria Institute of Journalism (NIJ) students to focus on their dreams and dedicate their time on their potentials, adding that hard work, mentoring and walking in the company of the right group of friends is very important.

According to her, “the only way to create a signature is discovering what others are not doing.”

Is the CEO/Founder of Investors King Limited. A proven foreign exchange research analyst and a published author on Yahoo Finance, Businessinsider, Nasdaq, Entrepreneur.com, Investorplace, and many more. He has over two decades of experience in global financial markets.

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Crude Oil

Oil Prices Rise in Asian Trade as Supply Concerns Heighten Amid Russian Attacks

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Oil

Oil prices surged on Monday during the Asian trading session as concerns over global supply intensified amidst ongoing attacks on Russian energy infrastructure.

Brent crude oil, against which Nigerian oil is priced, climbed by 47 cents to $85.81 a barrel while the U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose by 49 cents to $81.53 a barrel.

The market’s bullish sentiment was largely influenced by recent attacks on Russian refineries, which added $2-$3 per barrel of risk premium to crude last week.

These attacks persisted over the weekend, further heightening concerns about supply disruptions.

One of the strikes ignited a brief fire at the Slavyansk refinery in Kasnodar on Saturday. This refinery processes approximately 8.5 million metric tons of crude oil annually, equating to 170,000 barrels per day.

Consequently, a Reuters analysis revealed that these attacks have idled around 7% of Russian refining capacity in the first quarter of the year.

The impacted refining complexes play a crucial role in processing and exporting crude varieties to various markets, including China and India.

The escalating tensions in the Middle East also contributed to market unease. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed plans to push into Gaza’s Rafah enclave, disregarding pressure from Israel’s allies.

This move raised concerns about regional stability, amplifying geopolitical risks in the oil market.

Investors are closely monitoring the outcome of the U.S. Federal Reserve’s two-day meeting scheduled to conclude on Wednesday.

The Fed’s decision regarding interest rates could provide further clarity on market direction, potentially impacting oil prices in the near term.

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Commodities

Commodity Trading Industry Hits $100 Billion Profit, Second-Best Year on Record

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Zambian economy

The global commodities market has reported $100 billion in profits despite facing challenges and disruptions, making its second-best year ever. 

According to analysis from consultancy firm Oliver Wyman LLC, while earnings have dipped slightly from the record-breaking levels of 2022, this year’s profits easily surpass previous highlights, including those seen during the global financial crisis of 2008-2009.

Consultant Adam Perkins attributes this success to favorable margins driven by ongoing supply-demand dynamics, despite the volatility seen in various sectors.

While specific financial results for many players within the industry are yet to be made public, the report indicates that major independent trading houses are expected to show an average drop of over 30% from the record levels of 2022.

However, disruptions in supply chains and shortages of diesel and fuel oil have somewhat offset the decline in volatility related to Russian crude oil.

These profits have enabled commodity trading firms to bolster their positions as key providers of energy, metals, and food resources on a global scale.

With significant investments in oil refineries, storage facilities, power plants, and acquisitions of other trading companies, these firms are solidifying their roles in shaping global supply chains.

Moreover, the windfall profits have led to executives and partners within these firms becoming multi-millionaires, facilitating a generational shift in leadership as seasoned traders retire.

Despite the pressure to uphold legacies and navigate increased scrutiny, the influx of new leadership presents opportunities for innovation and growth within the commodity trading sector.

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Crude Oil

Oil Prices Surge as IEA Boosts Demand Forecasts and Trims Non-OPEC Supply Projections

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Crude Oil

Oil prices skyrocketed following the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) adjustments to its demand and supply forecasts.

The IEA’s latest report, released Thursday, sent shockwaves through financial markets as it unveiled a robust upward revision in global demand estimates while simultaneously trimming projections for non-OPEC oil supply.

With unparalleled confidence, the IEA bolstered first-quarter global demand growth forecasts, citing improved outlooks in the United States and heightened bunkering demand due to extended voyages circumventing geopolitical hotspots.

This unexpected surge in demand projections has injected a newfound sense of optimism into an industry grappling with uncertainties amid a shifting geopolitical landscape.

Moreover, the IEA’s decision to slash its projections for non-OPEC supply further fueled market exuberance.

Factoring in recent cuts from the OPEC+ coalition and reduced output from non-OPEC nations, the agency’s revised supply forecast sent a clear signal to investors: the tide is turning in favor of tightening supply dynamics.

This monumental shift in market sentiment was reflected in Brent crude futures, which surged by 0.86% to $84.75 a barrel, marking a significant milestone in the oil market’s recovery.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude followed suit, climbing 1.04% to $80.55 a barrel, as traders reacted swiftly to the IEA’s bullish outlook.

As the energy landscape undergoes a paradigm shift, industry experts anticipate a sustained rally in oil prices, driven by robust demand growth and tightening supply dynamics.

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