No fewer than 80 journalists  attended a two-day worshop in Benin, Edo
State capital  on the objectives of the
implementation of the Fadama III programme in the state.

The Edo Project Coordinator, Mrs Judith Momodu
said this  in Benin at the opening of the
workshop organised by her office.

She said the workshop was aimed at
creating better understanding of the objectives of the programme, adding that
the initiative was aimed at building partnership with the media as well as
establishing synergy among stakeholders.

“This sensitisation workshop is to
enhance communication and information flow about Fadama III project in the
state.

“It is for the media to help
educate the people and let the world know that the project was put in place to
eradicate poverty in the rural areas and create employment.’’

She explained that the Fadama
programme, now in its third phase, was initiated by the World Bank as a poverty
alleviation intervention targeted especially at the grassroots.

The coordinator noted that the
programme has been successful in Edo, adding that Governor Adams Oshiomhole was
committed to revolutionising the agricultural sub-sector in the state.

“The state governor, Mr Adams
Oshiomhole, has paid the counterpart funds for the project up to 2011 and that
of 2012 will soon be paid.

“The only challenge that we have
is that since 2009 to date, no local government across the state has paid its
counterpart funds,’’ she said.