Niger Delta
A’Ibom IFAD Beneficiaries Laud Programme
The beneficiaries of the In
ternational Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) assisted project in Akwa Ibom say the intervention has improved their lives.
The Secretary of Asajo Community Piggery Enterprise, Mr Eno Solomon, made the assertion in an interview on Sunday in Ikot Inyang, Oruk Anam Local Government Area.
Eno said this when the IFAD Supervision team visited Ikot Inyang village inspect projects being implemented under its Community-based Agricultural and Rural Development Programme.
He said that since the inception of the programme in July 2011, many of their members had been empowered economically and had improved economic well-being of the peolpe generally.
The scribe said the group which started the programme with two pigs could now boost of 40 pigs which could be sold for between N20, 000 and N25, 000 each.
“We have 21 members in this group, apart from the cooperative pigs; each member has at least seven to eight pigs of his own. We started this business with an initial capital of about N1.3 million assisted by IFAD programme, but now each of our members can take care of their family through the profit while the business is growing,” he said.
He added that the group also engaged in fishery to increase their income and reduce poverty within the community.
Eno narrated that the two fish ponds the group had at the moment contained about 4,000 fingerlings, adding that 3,000 fishes was harvested in the first cycle.
He said they realised about N2 million from the sales of the fishes in the first cycle and hoped that the second would produced more than the first.
At Nung Ukana in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area of the state, the Nka Ima Processing Group was full of praises for the IFAD assisted programme.
Speaking on behalf of the group, their leader, Mrs Mfon Sunday, disclosed that they had 30 members, comprising 15 women, five men and 10 youths who are benefiting from the programme.
Sunday said that the mill could process about eight drums of grade one oil, and three drums of grade two in a month.
She explained that a drum of grade one oil sold for N50, 000, while grade two for N40, 000 and a bag of palm kernel sold for N4, 500.
She said: “The IFAD programme has added value to our lives. Through this business, we contribute to our family upkeep and send our children to school. We have diversified to other businesses like cassava, plantain and pineapple farming all in an efforts to increase our income.”
The head of the team, Dr Oyesola Oyebanji, Consultant, National Programme for Food Security, thanked the groups for hailing the programme.
Oyebanji expressed happiness on the group’s record keeping, adding that it showed they had received some level of training.
He said: “I am impressed with the way they keep their records. You can see when they obtained loan and paid back as and when due to attract more credit facilities.
“They need to have access to more credit facilities to expand their business because their records are clean.
“The oil palm processing group has collected loan and has paid back, this shows that the business is benefiting the rural people”.
The team will continue with the inspection of the IFAD assisted projects in the state to monitor progress.
The Rivers State Commissioner for Housing, Engr. Basoene Benibo, says the era of prospective political appointees filling form is over in the state.
Basoene also declared the State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara’s readiness to promote indigenous languages as a medium of communication with God.
The Commissioner said this at Okrika during the 2024 Life Members Conference/Fundraising by the Bible Society of Nigeria (BSN), Rivers/Bayelsa Area.
He also described the present administration under the leadership of Governor Fubara as a godly one.
“The era of prospective political appointees filling form is no more. Rivers State is no individual’s estate as we all are equal stakeholders, and those of us in government will do everything possible to protect the interest of the state at all times”, he said.
The Commissioner also declared that the “State Government fully appreciate the prayers of the church for peace to reign and the people to enjoy the dividends of democracy.
“Therefore, the government will continue to work with the church to maintain peace, so that development will take place and investors will be encouraged to invest in the state”.
He urged the Society to redouble its effort to translate more Nigerian languages to bring about spiritual awareness among our people.
Benibo commended the society for its plan to raise funds for the building of a Bible house, adding that it will create room for a conducive environment for the society to conduct its affairs.
Earlier, Chairman of the Society, Elder Omoni Ayotamuno, said the Rivers/Bayelsa Area was created out of the former South Eastern State through the tireless efforts of the late Rt. Rev. Yibo Fubara, Bishop of the Niger Delta Diocese.
He said the society has a tradition of meeting certain target or goal, adding that the targets are distributing or selling a minimum of 7,500 Bibles, registering a minimum of 1000 members, and paying a minimum of #1 million to the National and few others that have to do with the submission of quarterly report.
He said within the last 15 years, the society hadly raised the needed funds to start the Bible House project.
“The best we have done was the plots of land we acquired at Isiokpo, and due to the far distance, we have decided to sell the land”, he said.
He expressed the hope that with the array of personalities at the event, the narrative will change as funds will be raised to start the project.
John Bibor
Niger Delta
Diri Mocks Critics, Says Govt’s Effort Yielding Good Results …As Bayelsa Set For Loans Recovery Drive
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has advised critics of his administration to stop de-marketing the state with falsehood and negative propaganda, saying that the efforts of the administration to market the state and attract investors were beginning to yield positive results and recognition.
He said in spite of the challenges, the state had achieved significant development since its creation 28 years ago.
Governor Diri stated this midweek during the 139th session of the State Executive Council meeting in Government House, Yenagoa.
The state’s helmsman explained that his recent invitation as Keynote Speaker at an event on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York was due to the organisers’ ‘’African Leadership Magazine” recognition of his administration’s modest achievements and the need to create a bigger platform for the Bayelsa story to be heard.
The Tide reports that Governor Diri was honoured at the event with the Best Performing Governor Award and the Honorary Citizenship of the State of Georgia and a Legislative Commendation from the South Carolina State House of Representatives.
He urged members of his cabinet to redouble their efforts toward achieving the government’s policies, noting that its success or failure depended on their input.
The state’s Chief Executive restated government’s commitment to commercial farming and that as part of the plan to revolutionise agriculture and ensure food security, mechanised farming equipment and tools will soon be made available to farmers.
Meanwhile, the Bayelsa State Governor said Government will recover loans taken by individuals for the purpose of farming and directed the Commissioner for Agriculture to commence the process of recovery.
“I delivered a keynote address marketing our state on the sidelines of the recent United Nations General Assembly in New York. While we’re out to market our state, there are anti-deveopment people that are locally de-marketing it.
“May God touch their hearts to know that the little efforts we’re making here are being recognised out there, even if the critics do not. It is just a few of them. We know the greater percentage of Bayelsans recognise what we’re doing”, he said.
He continued that “The African Leadership Magazine that gave the award has been on for more than 10 years. In all of the United Nations General Assembly annual events, the magazine always looks for people with parameters that they have set out. This time around, their parameters fell on Bayelsa State
“For all of us who sincerely want the growth of Bayelsa, and knowing where we are coming from, we will be sincere to ourselves that Bayelsa is truly moving from one stage to the other. Yes, we’re not where we expect to be, but no one that is truly of Bayelsa origin will say that the state is not developing. Perhaps, such persons have no ears, eyes or sense of judgement.
“I’m aware the tractors donated by the South Korean government are already on their way. I am also aware that the rice mills are also on the way, and that will be our take-off point. I want our people to get involved in commercial agriculture.
“We have brought the best hand to be Commissioner for Agriculture. Let me use this opportunity to ask for the agriculture loans that were taken last year. We want to know what they have used the money for because it was not given to them free.
“That culture of taking money for agriculture purposes and using it for something else must stop. I do not want anybody to think that the State Government collected loan and did not do anything with it. They should know that we gave the money to farmers”, Governor Diri added.
Ariwera Ibibo-Howells,
Yenagoa
Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has given approval for the payment of year 2023 scholarship to children of deceased civil servants and students living with disabilities in the state.
The scholarship scheme for children of deceased civil servants is designed to cater for the bereaved children of Delta State Civil Servants who died while in active service.
Similarly, the scholarship scheme for the physically challenged students is part of Delta State Government’s effort to assist physically challenged persons, who, in spite of their disabilities, have taken up the challenge to acquire relevant education that will make them less vulnerable in the society.
The two scholarship schemes run through Primary, Secondary and Tertiary schools.
In a statement signed by Executive Secretary, Delta State Bursary and Scholarship Board, Dr. Godfrey Enita, a total of 628 Children of Deceased Civil Servants drawn from over 200 families and 60 students living with disabilities will benefit from the 2023 scholarship.
“As a catalyst for socio-economic development, education is a critical component of Governor Oborevwori’s M.O.R.E Agenda geared towards empowering dreams and building great futures.
“Therefore, these approvals by the Governor, underscores his passion and commitment towards the education of students of Delta State origin, regardless of their socio-economic background”, the statement said.
Albert Ograka,
Asaba
