…Advocates massive investment in agriculture
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Abia-born cleric, Rev. Emmanuel Ukoha (popularly known as Emma Muonso), has advocated massive investment in agriculture as a meaningful way to empower the youths and boost food security.
The Ozuabam-based rich farmer and cleric who has over 200 hectares of farmland in different parts of Abia North, said that if Government were sincere about youth empowerment, it would intentionally equip them to meaningfully engage in farming activities.
Rev. Ukoha who forces down prices of staple food especially garri, rice and plantain any time he floods the market with his farm produce, also argued that pastors need to be economically self reliant to be able to effectively preach the gospel.
He urged pastors to acquire skill for self reliance instead of depending solely on their members for upkeep.
“You can’t be a good pastor if you are not a good farmer first,” he said, while shedding light on how he introduced agronomy into his Bible College to enable his students acquire skill in agriculture.
He argued that Apostle Paul was a tent maker and supported himself with the proceeds instead of being a burden to the church.
“One of the aims was to empower youths to serve God like the Apostles. God told me I must do it the apostle way. The apostles took care of themselves to preach the gospel. We used our hands to get what we need so we can preach the gospel with authority.
“Over the years we have been empowering youths with skills and the gospel. We equip them so they can be self reliant. Every building here was done by us from the scratch.”
Speaking with newsmen at his Bible College where students spend a year out of their three-year course for compulsory farming to acquire the basic knowledge for self reliance, Rev. Ukoha, said Nigeria had no reason to starve if the people would go back to farming.
The cleric who regretted that Abia State in the past had only one tractor, said that if Government could provide the needed support for willing farmers, the state would become a major food basket in the South-East zone.
“We need tractors. Abia had only one tractor. If Government can make equipment available, then watch what we will do.
“We already have the land. We have the capabilities. Yes If I’m provided with 10 tractors, we will be able to provide staple foods for the state.”
He, however, noted that as much as he would not be averse to Government partnership and support, he would not want to have any dealings with anyone with political motives.
The cleric who said he received a divine revelation to blend the gospel with farming, added that God strictly warned him never to seek employment.
“I was strictly warned never to be employed by anybody, and I will never seek employment. We now employ people. If I see anything I like I call an expert who comes here to teach us, and we start our own.”
Ikengaonline reports that besides theology, students of the Bible College are also into block molding, welding work, bread production, fishery, animal husbandry and so many other skills for self reliance.
Responding to a question whether he received funds from donor agencies for his massive agricultural investment, Rev. Ukoha said, he had no foreign sponsors.
“I have no connection with any white man. No White man has ever given me any penny since we started. We are not affiliated to anybody. We are just on our own, and trying to prove the gospel.
“God taught me how to use local content to develop our environment. For me to start building construction, I invited and paid a company to teach us tiling work. I learnt tiling work and I incorporated it my school system.”
