The Executive Chairman of ENSUBEB, Associate Professor Hyginus Banko Okibe, on Wednesday flagged off the 2022/2023 Agricultural Education training programme for headteachers, teachers, and pupils at Independence Layout Primary School, Enugu.
In his remarks, Professor Okibe emphasized that agriculture is a veritable tool for economic development and growth, stressing that the country's major problem is hunger due to people not engaging in farming activities anymore. He noted that schools should be exposed to agricultural skills and technology, and announced that there will be an agricultural trade fair where produce from all schools will be showcased.
Commissioner for Agriculture and Agro Industrialization, Dr. Patrick Nwabueze Ubru, delivered a keynote address, highlighting the importance of agriculture, stating that without it, there will be no life. He announced that 12,000 bags of fertiliser will be distributed to registered farmers in the state and emphasized that non-farmers will not receive farming inputs and fertilisers.
Dr. Ubru reiterated that agriculture occupies an important space in the Governor's vision and manifesto as one of the developmental areas for reviving the economy. He noted that Enugu State has introduced dry season farming with solar pumping machines and embarked on three-cycle rice production, making it the largest producer of cassava in the country. He announced plans to establish agricultural processing industries in the three senatorial zones of the state.
Dr. Amaka S. Ngene, Executive Chairman of STVSMB and former Permanent Member of ENSUBEB, appreciated the guests and emphasized that the agricultural education training programme is child-centered, aimed at making agriculture a future career or hobby for the pupils. She enumerated the objectives of the training, including the provision of requisite skills for self-employment.
Hon. Mrs. Nwakaego Ajah, Permanent Member 3, thanked the Executive Governor of Enugu State, the Executive Chairman of ENSUBEB, and UBEC for the initiative in making Agricultural Science more practical-oriented at the Basic Schools. She urged the learners and teachers to take the training seriously to promote their dignity in labour.
The Managing Director of Safari 54, Ambassador Patience Madlion, a big-time farmer, delivered a goodwill message. The event featured lectures on food crops, planting, and care, and the distribution of farm inputs and plants to various schools.
The highlight of the occasion was the decoration of Dr. Amaka Ngene by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Agro Industrialisation.
Comments