Sunbeth Global Concepts to launch 70,000 MT cocoa and 80,000 MT cashew processing plants in March 2027
via Punch Nigeria3 min read
Sunbeth Global Concepts Ltd, a leading Nigerian agro-commodity exporter, plans to establish a 70,000-metric tonne cocoa processing plant and an 80,000-metric tonne cashew processing facility, both scheduled for commissioning in March 2027. This initiative, announced by Managing Director Mr. Olasunkanmi Owoyemi at the Africa Cocoa Finance and Investment Forum in London, is part of the company's strategy to enhance local value addition in Africa's agricultural value chains. The dual facilities aim to boost African export capacity, with the cocoa plant strengthening Nigeria's global position and the cashew plant serving West Africa and export markets in Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Sunbeth's investment in new, state-of-the-art facilities reflects its transition from a trading enterprise to an integrated processor, focusing on vertical integration, farmer empowerment, and sustainable supply chains. The company operates in Nigeria, Ghana, and Cameroon, with international offices in London, Dubai, and New York, positioning itself to capture value across the entire cocoa supply chain and contribute to Africa's economic benefits from these commodities.
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The United States Department of State announced that Americans with child support debts exceeding $2,500 risk having their passports revoked. Federal regulations prohibit the issuance or renewal of a US passport for individuals with outstanding child support debts above this threshold. The department advises those with significant debt to contact their state child support agency immediately to arrange payment and avoid revocation. Affected passport holders will receive revocation notices via email or mail. Even after repayment, a revoked passport cannot be used for travel, and individuals must apply for a new one. The process for clearing a debtor's name from government records can take a minimum of two to three weeks after payment. US citizens overseas whose passports are revoked due to unpaid child support will only qualify for a limited-validity passport for direct return to the United States until the debt is settled. This policy is based on a 1996 federal law and improved data-sharing between the Department of Health and Human Services and the State Department now allows for more systematic identification and revocation of passports.
The Nigeria Football Federation has announced the appointments of Abdu Maikaba and Eboboritse Uwejamomere as head coaches for the men’s national U-20 and U-17 teams, respectively. These appointments follow a reshuffling of the backroom staff across all age-grade national football teams. Abdu Maikaba, who will lead the U-20 Flying Eagles, has a history of coaching prestigious Nigerian clubs like Enyimba FC and Kano Pillars, and previously served as an assistant coach for the U-20 team and head coach for the U-17 Golden Eaglets. Eboboritse Uwejamomere, the new head coach for the U-17 Golden Eaglets, has extensive experience as a coach-analyst for the senior men's national team, Super Eagles, and the senior women's national team, Super Falcons. He currently heads the academy at Sporting Lagos FC and has worked with English clubs such as Millwall FC and Nottingham Forest FC in youth development roles.
Yeshua’s Arm, a non-governmental organization, has voiced concerns regarding the diminishing reading culture among Nigerian children, attributing it to increased social media use and limited access to books. This concern was raised during the commissioning of a library at St Theresa School in Epe, Lagos State, as part of a literacy intervention project in collaboration with Dow Chemical Company. Mrs. Kemi Williams, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Yeshua’s Arm, noted that children are spending more time on social media than on reading. The organization's response includes establishing libraries and expanding mobile library services to improve literacy, reading habits, and critical thinking by providing access to books and learning materials. Williams stated that these efforts are currently reaching over 2,000 children. The libraries are designed to foster independent learning and cognitive development, aiming to enhance classroom learning outcomes and the quality of education nationwide. Williams emphasized that Nigeria's most valuable resource is its human capital, advocating for greater investment in education and literacy. The organization is working with schools to ensure the project's sustainability through continuous literacy support and has already introduced mobile libraries in several schools, impacting 20 to 30 schools and establishing about 10 permanent libraries. Toby-Lade Valmon, Site Implementation Leader for Global African Affinity Network, Dow Industrial
National Sports Commission Director-General Bukola Olopade commended First Lady Oluremi Tinubu for her consistent support of Nigerian sports, particularly for women athletes. Olopade's remarks came as the First Lady received the Nigerian women's wrestling team, who achieved a record-breaking performance at the Africa Wrestling Championship in Egypt, securing their 15th continental title with eight gold and two silver medals. Olopade highlighted that Tinubu's dedication has been crucial to the continuous success of female athletes at continental and global competitions, describing her as a driving force. The First Lady has been a significant supporter of sports development in Nigeria, including being installed as Grand Patron of the 2025 Africa Women’s Volleyball Club Championship and promoting opportunities for para-athletes. The recent wrestling triumph further solidifies Nigeria's dominance in African wrestling.