The first lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu has distributed agricultural support materials to Edo women cross the 18 local government area of Edo State.
Supervising the distribution of the agriculture support materials at the New Festival Hall, Government House in Benin City, the state capital, the Coordinator, Office of the First Lady, Edo State, Edesili Anani Okpebholo said the initiative is aimed at empowering women through sustainable agricultural practices.
The agricultural support materials distributed includes, poultry chicks, improved seedlings, farm implements amongst others.
The Agricultural support Programme and Empowerment of the Renewed Hope initiative of the Federal Government is meant to enhance food security, promote economic inclusion and empower vulnerable population through sustainable agricultural practices.
Edesili Anani said the initiative is part of the broader national agenda to strengthen the agricultural sector, promote food security and empower the citizens.
According to her, “This initiative is that of the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu aimed at improving the lives of families across Nigeria”.
She noted that Edo State Governor had made significant contributions to the Agricultural sector in the State as he has put all the necessary mechanism in place to ensure Edo State is an agricultural hub for food production and sufficiency.
“Today, we will be empowering youths and women in agriculture, young farmers club and every home a garden”
“The initiative, women in agricultural programme aims to empower women through sustainable agricultural practices. It provides support, training and resources to women in agriculture focusing on economic inclusion and food security”
Edesili Anani continues, “The initiative provides agricultural inputs such as seeds, fertilizer, tools as well as cash grants to all the beneficiaries here today”
“The essence of the programme is to promote food security, build young farmers and foster internships for agriculture amongst our children. The Every Home a Garden is an initiative to boost food production in every household, improve nutrition and end food scarcity in the State and nation”
“We encourage everybody to have a garden in their house as it encourages families to promote food security and healthy food. At the end of the programme here today we will be giving out seeds to women here which at the long run become a competition which will lead to winning cash prizes at the end of harvest. As the best woman with the best garden will win N1 million, the second prize will be N500, 000 while the third will win N300,000”
“We aim to empower women, youth and children in agriculture, enhance food security, promote sustainable agricultural practices, increase agricultural productivity and act
efficiency, support entrepreneurship and job creation in agriculture”
“Together we can transform our Agricultural sector, improve livelihood and build a brighter future for our citizens”.
The Special Adviser (SA) on agriculture and food security Ugbodu Golden said the Monday Okpebholo led administration is concerned and playing a major role in sustaining agriculture in the State that will lead to economic growth.
“We have procured tractors, develop over 200 hecters of land, fertilizers for farmers. The government will be supporting large farms, women cooperative, schools to enable them to succeed”
“The Government is also working to provide more hectares of land for farmers. Edo women and youths will be economically empowered and food security in the State will be guaranteed”.
In his goodwill message, the chairman of All farmers association of Nigeria (AFAN) Edo State chapter, Alhaji Bako Ebiredelu Dogwo commended the Governor Monday Okpebholo’s led administration for embracing agriculture.
He noted that the previous administration led by Godwin Obaseki did not recognize agriculture in the State as the sector was neglected.
“Agriculture is the way of life because all homes and individuals need food to survive. The farmers in Edo State are happy because the Monday Okpebholo’s led administration embraced agriculture and today there are increased agricultural activities in Edo State”
“The governor has bought hundreds of tractors to improve farming in the State while the last administration abandoned the sector for 8 years under former governor Godwin Obaseki.
“AFAN didn’t benefit from Obaseki’s led administration in the last 8 years. Today Edo is ready for farming and boosting food security in our various homes, State and nation”.
The functioning permanent secretary ministry of agriculture and food security Mr Osayande Sunday commended the governor of Edo State Senator Monday Okpebholo for his interest in farming making farming attractive for Edo people as many of the citizens are venturing into farming.
Highpoint of the programme were lectures given by various speakers and experts in the poultry, vegetable farming, fishery, careers in agriculture and other aspects of agriculture to the benefits of younger farmers club, Youths in agriculture, women in agriculture and stakeholders in the agricultural sector.
The Coordinator, Iffice of the First Lady, Edo State, Edesili Anani also used the occasion to decorate 31 students belongings to young farmers club in their various schools with farming tools to kick start farming competition in schools across Edo State where the best school will win cash prize and their products bought from them.
