Enugu State Government Partners with Danish Firm for Local Tractor Assemblage

The Enugu State Government has formed a strategic partnership with a Danish company to begin tractor assemblage in the state, eliminating the need for farmers to import machinery.  

 

Governor Peter Mbah made this announcement on Saturday via his official X (formerly Twitter) account, emphasizing that this initiative will substantially strengthen Enugu’s agricultural sector. 

 

Governor Mbah revealed that 300 tractors would be assembled by the end of 2024, with a goal of reaching 1,000 tractors by the following year.  

“I’m excited to announce that tractor assemblage will commence in our beloved state before the year ends. Through our partnership with a Danish company, over 300 tractors will be assembled this year alone, with a target of 1,000 by next year,” the governor tweeted. 

Governor Mbah also emphasized the state’s comprehensive strategy, which includes the development of Special Processing Zones designed to add value to agricultural products, enhancing their suitability for both local consumption and export markets. 

Additionally, he highlighted the government’s ongoing efforts to improve critical infrastructure, including the construction of paved roads, improved access to farmlands, strengthened security measures, and the promotion of a business-friendly environment.  

These measures are intended to create favorable conditions for attracting both domestic and international investments, contributing to sustainable economic growth in the state. 

What you should know  

§  Over the past few months, the Enugu State Government, led by Governor Peter Mbah, has implemented a series of initiatives focused on revitalizing the agricultural sector. 

§  One of the most notable efforts occurred on Friday, September 13, with the official launch of the Enugu United Palm Products Limited (EUPPL) revitalization project.

§  This project, a N100 billion investment in partnership with Pragmatic Palms Limited, aims to boost the agricultural output of the state by creating 3,500 jobs, reviving 20,000 hectares of palm plantation, and establishing oil mills and refining capacities. 

§  The governor has described the project as more than a business revival, positioning it as a key step in enhancing the state’s agricultural infrastructure and economy.

§  Governor Mbah has framed the initiative as part of a broader strategy to stimulate agricultural innovation and economic growth in Enugu.

§  The project is expected to improve both production and processing capacities in the state, contributing to local employment and the overall development of the agricultural sector.

§  Earlier in August, Governor Mbah announced the distribution of N4.6 billion worth of agricultural inputs and MSME grants to farmers, communities, and IT startups across Enugu State, aimed at supporting food security, agro-industrialization, and small businesses. 

§  The initiative involved providing 12,000 farmers with fertiliser, distributing 51 power tillers, and supplying various agricultural inputs to 1,251 beneficiaries in all 17 local government areas. 

AI skills could rival job experience in hiring decisions — and not just in tech

 

Close to 70% of leaders say they won’t hire someone without AI skills and would rather hire a less experienced candidate with AI skills than a more experienced person without them, according to the report, which surveyed more than 30,000 people in 31 countries. 

“Learning basic AI skills — such as prompt engineering, machine learning or data literacy — is the best insurance to shortcut your competitiveness against people who might have more experience,” Aneesh Raman, a vice president and workforce expert at LinkedIn, says 

Some companies including Google and Amazon have announced investments in teaching their workforce AI skills, but such initiatives aren’t the norm: Only 25% of companies are planning to offer training on generative AI tools like ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot, Microsoft and LinkedIn found.

There are dozens of free online courses people can use to learn AI skills offered by companies like IBM and Google and Ivy League institutions like Harvard University and the University of Pennsylvania.

The hype around AI is far from peaking — it’s just starting to build, according to Colette Stallbaumer, general manager of Microsoft Copilot and co-founder of Microsoft WorkLab. 

Of course, Microsoft is betting big on AI. In May, the tech giant announced it will invest $3.3 billion over the next four years to build new cloud and AI infrastructure.

“Less than two years after generative AI burst onto the scene, we’re seeing this technology being woven into the fabric of work across a wide range of industries,” Stallbaumer says. “This is happening at a pivotal time where the pressure, volume and pace of work from the Covid-19 pandemic has hardly let up. Employees are overwhelmed and turning to AI for help.” 

Generative AI tools in particular have seen a surge in workplace adoption, with usage doubling in the last six months, Microsoft and LinkedIn report.

It’s not just programmers and engineers experimenting with these tools: Architects, project managers and administrative assistants are among the professionals looking to build their AI aptitude the most. 

Non-tech industries including health care, finance and marketing are adopting AI technologies at a rapid clip to streamline business operations and boost productivity, Stallbaumer adds, creating high demand and new job opportunities for professionals skilled in these tools.

Gen Z could use AI to accelerate their careers

As more leaders demand AI skills in new hires, younger applicants with AI acumen stand to have greater access to job opportunities over their more experienced peers without those skills and accelerate their ascent up the corporate ladder. 

Gen Z employees, being digital natives, are more likely to use these tools at work than their millennial, Gen X and Baby Boomer colleagues, Microsoft and LinkedIn found.

What’s more, 77% of leaders say that early-career talent with AI skills will be given greater responsibilities at work, the Microsoft and LinkedIn data shows.

Raman says AI could also help young professionals move their careers forward by providing faster access to tailored career advice, market research and other data-driven insights that help them feel more confident and competent in their jobs.

Lydia Logan, IBM’s vice president of global education and workforce development, expects that the rapid integration of AI in the workplace will trigger significant changes to entry-level job responsibilities.

“When I think about the first job I had, a lot of what I was doing was answering the phone, organizing files, and that’s still the case for a lot of people,” she says. “Many of those administrative tasks that can now be automated with AI, which leaves room for entry-level workers to take on the kind of responsibilities someone one or even two levels above them on the corporate ladder might have.”