By Ohanele Casca
The Deputy Speaker House of Representatives the Rt. Hon Emeka Ihedioha has empowered 700 women and youth farmers from all the 27 LGAs of Imo State, through his Agro-Training programme aimed at ensuring food security in Imo State.
The 3 – day intensive training in collaboration with the National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture drilled the trainees on how to use cassava, potato, cocoyam and other root crops to produce floor and other allied products. The participants were taught how to make bread, fruit drinks, bones, chips, shripes using floor from local root crops.
Speaking at the flag off of the programme Rt. Hon Jonas Okereke who represent Chief Ihedioha the first day, enjoined the trainees to take the course serious as the Deputy Speaker, House of Representative is very passionate in uplifting the life of Imolites through Agriculture.
At the closing event which marked the high point of the training, participants were awarded certificates and funds to start their own Agric business by the Deputy Speaker, House of Representative, Chief Ihedioha.
In his address, Rt. Hon Ihedioha advised the trainees to take advantage of the knowledge they have acquired, to empower themselves and to create jobs for others. He promised to sustain the programme by building three pilot schemes with processing units in each of the three zones of Imo State. He assured that when the units are built, he will equip them with machines to make them functional so that products from such cottage industries can compete favourable in both the local and international markets.
Chief Ihedioha stressed that no amount of promise or programme by government can succeed if the citizens are hungry. He noted that with uncertainty in climate, responsible leaders should invest in capacity development in Agriculture and stop playing politics that has no positive bearing on the survival instinct of the populace. He expressed his desire to ensure that food is available and affordable in Imo State. He added that his passion for Imo is to see a state in peace where everybody is a partner in progress irrespective of party affiliation as that has been his mission at the National Assembly. He thanked Imo people for the support they have given him at the National level.
Commenting on the programme, the Senator Representing Orlu Zone, Senator Hope Uzodinma commended Hon Ihedioha for his people oriented programme. He told Imo people to observe what Ihedioha is doing stressing that with people like Hon Ihedioha, Imo will witness practical development as against governance without due process and summersault in decision. The Senator, charged the trainees to ensure they practice what they have learnt as the only way of showing gratitude to God for what Chief Ihedioha has done for Imolites.
The National women leader of PDP, Her Excellency, Dr Kema Chikwe also commended Chief Ihedioha for his dream of making the rural women and youths have a sense of belonging. She stressed that Chief Ihedioha is good in consultations and very accessible for positive advice which she said has been rewarding for Imo citizens she prayed for God’s blessing on Ihedioha who she assured of women’s support at all times.
In his own speech, the PDP state Chairman Chief Duruihuoma (SAN) said the party is very proud of the sponsor of the training as there is a reflection that the expected leadership in Imo is about becoming a reality in Ihedioha. He noted that Emeka is the parameter for accessing effective leadership. The PDP Chairman commended him for his large heart of extending the programme to all Imolites across the 3 geo-political zones irrespective of party affiliations.
Earlier, the Execute Director, National Root Crops Institute, Umudike Dr J.C. Okonkwo extolled the virtues of the Deputy Speaker, Hon Ihedioha, for tapping the wealth of experience and the opportunities provided by NRCRI to empower his people of Imo State. He stressed that the Deputy Speaker is a man of vision as he provided the funds, logistics and political will for the economic empowerment of his fellow Imolites. This views of the Executive Director was collaborated by Dr Asumugha who pointed out that the 700 trainees in Imo State is the highest empowerment skill programme the research institute has embarked on since its inception. This he attributed to Chief Ihedioha’s desire to add value to the life of his fellow Imolites. He assured that NRCRI will continue to monitor the progress of the graduands in Imo State as they hope to train more in the future as promised by the Deputy Speaker, Chief Ihedioha.
Some of the trainees demonstrated the practical of what they were taught in the three 3 day programme they made exhibitions of breads, fruit drinks, chin chin, bones etc to the administration of the dignitaries who attended the event. They assured Hon Ihedioha that they will use the knowledge to better their families and improve the living standards of those living with them in their various communities. They thanked the Deputy Speaker for using his position and resources to better the life of Imolites promising to give him support when ever he asked of it from them.
The programme which took place at the Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education Owerri had in attendance people of all works of life irrespective of party affiliation among who are: the Provost of the College, Hon Jones Onyereri, member representing Nkwerre, Isu Njaba Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon Goodluck Opiah, Rt. Hon Ernest Ibeziako, members of PDP State Executives and their counterparts in all the LGA and wards in Imo State, past and present members of the Imo State House of Assembly, traditional rulers, Captains of industries and the academic. The members of the press were not left out.
