Ebonyi Govt Approves Additional Training for 200 Farmers To Boost Food Security
From OKOH OMAHA (Abakaliki)
It its commitment to promoting agriculture across the state, Ebonyi government has approved another round of state-sponsored agro training for 200 persons drawn from across the 171 political wards in the state.
The Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Jude Okpor, who disclosed this at the briefing after weekly State's Executive Council meeting held in Abakaliki, explained that the move was in furtherance of the government’s effort towards empowering more Ebonyi State people, especially the youths, in agriculture as a means of encouraging self-reliance and boosting food security in the state.
Okpor said the prospective beneficiaries will undergo training in diverse agricultural specialities at the Called Servant to Serve Farms, Nasarawa State.
Earlier ste government had trained 95 Ebonyi youths drawn from across the 13 local government areas in another training centre outside the state.
According to him, the beneficiaries spent some months in the centre where they were trained in fishery, poultry, piggery farming and business management skills, adding that they were empowered with N3m each by Governor Francis Nwifuru to begin their own farms.
Also approved by the government during the SEC meeting was the training of 100 Ebonyi State youths on electrical maintenance and installations.
The training, which the Commissioner disclosed, would be done in collaboration with the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure, is aimed at boosting the human capital development initiatives of the state government.
Other resolutions reached at the meeting bordered on infrastructure, sports, transportation and rural development.
Okpor noted that apart from the approval for the procurement of a multipurpose towing van for the state ministry of transport, the Council approved the appointment of Nnenna Igwe as the General Manager of Ebonyi State Transport Service just as addition to the new fleet of buses were delivered to the corporation by the Governor on October 1.
Under infrastructure and rural development, the Commissioner said the Council approved the Bill of Engineering Measurement and Evaluation for some strategic roads and bridges in Ivo and Ezza North local government areas, including the 4km Amaeke-Ike River Road with its three span, 45m bridge as well as the 4km Ekwetekwe/Ogbuinyagu-Umuezekoha Road and the three span, 45m Akadoro bridge in Umuezeoka, Ezza North.
According to him, the Council for Public Procurement was also directed to advertise and award the projects. Okpor added: “Sequel to the number of lives lost almost on daily basis at the Eke-Imoha Market, Ezza South LGA, especially on Eke Market days, the State Executive Council approved the construction of a pedestrian bridge to forestall further loss of lives in the area.
“In keeping with the People’s Charter of Needs policy of the Governor, particularly in the area of youths and sports development, and in an effort to have Ebonyi State participate in the 2024/25 Nigerian National Football League, EXCO approved the purchase of a football club for the state.”
