This update starts with a few notes about the responses to my new text and audio guide for english/french learners. I’ve provided names, links, and locations to help ANYONE interested in following up/acting on the information I’ve supplied here.(No time to read online? Click here to request a copy of the IFAD 12 page PDF report). Or head over to the IFAD website, to request a copy.

I’m getting closer to finding Samuel Agossou, the 700,000 rabbit breeding Beninese Super Agro-Entrepreneur. This update also features some amazing stories about how Beninese agro-entrepreneurs and NGOs are leading change in Africa. Also mentioned is the impressive success story of women cassava farmers in Rivers State of Nigeria who earned an extra $2,200 during a cassava off season by planting Cucumber on their farms!

The Quick & Dirty Guide for English/French Learners Is Out!

We hit the streets today with flyers announcing my "Quick & Dirty Guide to English Language for French Speakers…and to French language for English speakers!"

The response has been exciting.

Already, people outside Benin Republic are showing their interest as well. The products sales page has already recorded enquiries from Nigeria – starting with a student from Portharcourt who requested the FREE workbook and ONE sample audio download via autoresponder.

He also sent in a question which I just read out to my team members over here, saying "How can a beginner learn to speak French fluently". In my response, I recommended he purchase my "Proven 5 Step Formula" ebook (and the above guide) I wrote in 2002, linked below. Click here to read my FULL email response to him. I’ve published it, because I think it will benefit others.

Ebook: Proven 5 Step Formula for Learning ANY Language in 3 Months or LESS

Out here in Calavi, we’ve had individuals coming in to make enquiries on their own.

Some have specifically asked if there are formal classes they can take in addition to picking up the guide. I’ve told them buyers of the guide get access to a series of practical sessions we’ll be organising. One thing is certain – many adults in this society want to learn to speak English.

An Irony of Life: They keep telling me: C’est le prémier language dans le monde!

Maybe they’re right. Maybe English really is the number one, most widely spoken (and possibly most valued) language in the world.

However for me, it’s funny how I’ve felt that way about French language all this while. For me, especially in the early years when I started learning to read, write and speak FRENCH, ANY French speaking person was the closest thing to God…for me!

It would appear when you strongly desire something, it affects your perception greatly – making you value it above other things.

English speakers who desire to speak French think the world of people they discover can speak French. And French speakers who desire to speak English generally appreciate persons who can speak English.

With respect to the above, if you’re on my mailing list, I’m assuming you got the broadcasts I sent out as follows:

A. On Monday (in the speaking IDEAS newsletter at www.tinyurl.com/psip86-sdn)

B. Yesterday on the leads generation squeeze page at http://www.tayosolagbade.com/qdg.html

Yesterday was spent cleaning out the errors inadvertently carried over into the online version of the announcement e.g like the outrageous inclusion of "Tayo et al"(Latin!) I made on the cover page, instead of "Tayo et ses amis"!!

The guys are all so pumped up – having seen the work they contributed to online, with their photos and a video of themselves speaking!

We’re scoring on multiple fronts with this strategy. I aim to promote the text/audio based guide to career persons and self employed professionals here (and in Nigeria), offering them access to the Public Speaking practice exercise in the language they wish to learn.

I’m hoping to use this as a means of stirring their interest in – for instance – Burt Dubin’s speaker mentoring products and services I promote.

A Wonderful Cotonou Based NGO Run by Young People Providing Funds for Inventors & Entrepreneurs!

By the way, I had a meeting with members of an NGO doing great things here in Africa, in collaboration with organisations around the world.

The “The Cotonou International Forum for New Discovery (CINC)” is engaged in providing funding to inventors and entrepreneurs – who come up with viable ideas and projects – across Africa. More on them later in this piece. They appeared in the same PDF report by IFAD as the next achiever I mention below:

I’m Getting CLOSER In My Search for Samuel Agossou – the 700,000 rabbit breeding Beninese Super Agro-Entrepreneur – Click HERE to Watch The Video

As it turns out, contrary to suggestions from people in goverment, and lecturers of agriculture in the university who suggested he did not exist (since they did not know him), I’ve downloaded a "TerraViva" PDF report (described as "a product of the “Amplifying the voices of WCA young farmers” project funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)).

It features my 700,000 rabbit breeding Beninese super entrepreneurial farmer (Samuel Agossou), with pictures and more details, on 2 pages.

So he does exist – those who should know simply don’t!

I’m determined to find him – and with this latest discovery, I know I’m getting closer.

Amazing That Benin Republic Is Achieving Great Milestones in Agricultural Development & Many Do Not Know

In that same PDF report a large group photograph split into 2 pages (see below) is seen in which many Beninese ministers appear along with sixty young entrepreneurs from around the world(of which the rabbit entrepreneur is one – as mentioned above). .

The event was organised by International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) at the Palais du Congress here in Cotonou, Benin Republic, from October 10 to 13, 2011. It was an international workshop and exhibition of innovation on “youth entrepreneurs – agents of change”.

It was in that same report that I read about the above mentioned Cotonou based NGO, and after extensive Google searches, found their website, got their phone number, and then met with them at the office premises close to Ecobank Agbontikon.

Also featured in the PDF by IFAD are about five other (again!) Beninese based agro-entrepreneurs

These are young people (in their early forties or younger), breaking barriers with their creativity and innovation. They include Laurette Dossou-Yovo, Dieudonné Aladjodjo, Mahoub Damala, Assise Fiodendji, and others.

Some of them are graduates of the famous Porto-Novo based Songhai Integrated Farming Centre, created in 1985 by a priest, Father Godfrey Nzamujo.

The United Nations recognizes Songhai as a regional centre for excellence, and it teaches young farmers to be entrepreneurial. During my first week in Benin Republic, I visited the centre to drop off a letter for the director with regard to the Commercial Rabbit Farming Guide I’m trying to finish by including information from real life entreprises like theirs.

The irony is that I had to search for and find ALL this information by myself – and then have the Beninese I’ve met express surprise that such developments are occurring in their country!

Indeed, across Africa, many are NOT aware of some of the amazing revelations featured in that PDF, about exceptional milestones being achieved by Beninese agro-entrepreneurs in particular.

Click here to request of the IFAD 12 page PDF report, and marvel at the potential Africa demonstrates that it can manifest, through Agriculture, from a small country like Benin Republic.

Note, very importantly, that most of this happened without direct government intervention. These young people simply collaborated with themselves and mostly foreign organisations to make their dreams come true. Having said that the CINC president mentioned in an interview that they now work with their country’s ministers, to achieve even greater progress – having established themselves as a force to be reckoned with.

Women Cassava Farmers In Rivers State Of Nigeria Develop New Idea That Earns Them An Extra $2,200 From Planting Cucumber On Their Cassava Farms In The Off Season

Thankfully, I was pleased to find – in the IFAD report – that it’s not just the Beninese who are scoring big – even though they are obviously out in front

At the 6th regional forum of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) held in November 2011 at Libreville, Gabon the success story of  “The United Ladies Cassava Farmers Association from Rivers State in Nigeria” was told.

They developed an idea to plant and harvest cucumbers in the off-season. This led them to realise an extra 350 thousand naira (2,200 dollars) from their cucumber harvest.

Now that’s a substantial addition to their income. And that’s definitely something that others can adopt.

Taking It To The Next Level By Putting Our Egos Aside & Working Together: I’ve Proposed to CINC, A Workshop to Teach Entrepreneurs to Make Wines/Drinks from Pineapple Peels

Last week, during the meeting I had with them, I proposed among other things, collaborating with the CINC, here in Cotonou, to organise a workshop: to teach interested persons how to use the massive quantities of pineapple peels being currently thrown away by sellers here in Benin Republic, as raw materials for making wines/drinks of different kinds at extremely low cost, for good profit.

It appears they like my ideas. They’ve said they’ll be inviting me to meet with the president (Barbara Macon).

I certainly hope we can make this happen, as I’m sure many Africans will benefit from the synergy. This continent needs it.

Before I joined Guinness, I learnt practical low cost ways of making good quality wines from over ripe pawpaw fruits while working in a small Lagos based factory.

The owner was a retired brewer. The wines were bottled and sold across the country. He’s still going strong today.

My exposure to international brewing practices and procedures has boosted my undestanding even further. And the way things are going here, I may end up launching a production operation here as a model for others to learn from – possibly exporting across West Africa.

Oh look I’ve written over 1,300 words already!

Once I get started on the subject of developing Africa using technology and agriculture, I get carried away by my passion!

Better stop now, before I write a book…but then again, that’s not a bad idea…:-)

How you had an enjoyable read!