Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
In his quest to deepen the Abia State economy and offer a formidable financial future for the youths, Gov Alex Otti has commenced the process of training the youths in agro-business.
As part of the measures, the State Government will collaborate with CSS FARMS based in Nasarawa State to undertake the training in line with his commitment to supporting food security in the state.
Receiving a delegation from the farm, Gov Otti explained that the reason he sent both the Commissioner for Agriculture, Prof Monica Ironkwe and the Special Adviser on Agriculture, Dr Cliff Agbaeze, to the farm last year for a first hand study of their operations, was because he understood the value chain of Agriculture.
The Governor who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, reiterated his desire to ensure that an enabling environment is created for Agriculture to thrive in the state.
He expressed confidence that the collaboration between the government and the farm will yield positive results, and urged the delegation to feel free to make its recommendations on best ways to go about the implementation of the partnership.
In his speech, Dr Agbaeze who led the delegation to Government House, disclosed that the envisaged partnership will see CSS Farm train Abia youths on various food chains as an alternative way of making money to be self reliant.
He expressed delight that the Governor emphasised the importance of turning Agriculture into Agric-business so that Abia youths would grow to be employers of labour.
Dr Agbaeze explained that the objective of the planned training programme was to create a network Incubation model that ensures that Abia youths are gainfully engaged in various areas of modern farming across all wards on a more sustainable basis.
In his remarks, leader of the delegation, Dr Victor Umunnakwe, lauded Gov Otti for his phenomenal achievements in so short a time as the Governor of Abia State.
Assuring the Governor of the farm’s readiness to partner the state to transform it into one of the major agric hubs in Nigeria, Umunnakwe promised to train Abia youths adequately in different agricultural programmes to enable them become financially independent.
He explained that their exploratory visit was to assess the existing agricultural facilities and structures in the state so as to identify essential training needs in the state.
The delegation was later taken round some of the critical agricultural outlets in the state.
