Governor Alex Otti of Abia State | File Image
… To partner centre
By Kennedy Dike
The Abia State government has embraced the Agricbusiness Incubation Centre at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, as a catalyst for enhanced food production in the state.
It also pledged to partner the Centre in its drive to recruit the citizenry to embrace agriculture as a means of ensuring food security.
The Commissioner for Agriculture, Prof Monica Ironkwe, made the disclosure, when she led a delegation to the Centre at MOUAU.
She said that Governor Alex Otti directed her to make the visit to the centre as a result of the positive impact it has made in so short a time after its establishment.
Also read: Abaribe to partner MOUAU Centre on youth empowerment
The Commissioner, who was accompanied on the visit by the Special Adviser to the governor on Agriculture, Dr Cliff Agbaeze, further disclosed that the governor was pleased with the activities of the Centre.
She assured that the government was willing to partner the Centre to boost food production and enhance profitability in agriculture among the populace.
Also, the SA on Agriculture, Dr Cliff Agbaeze, assured the Agricbusiness Incubation Centre of the readiness of government to work with it for the betterment of the citizens.
Receiving the delegation on behalf of the Vice Chancellor, Prof Maduebibisi Iwe, the director of the centre, Dr Philips Nto, expressed the gratitude of the university to Gov Alex Otti for showing interest in the centre.
Nto, who conducted the delegation round the Centre and briefed them on its activities, assured Dr Otti that MOUAU would assist him actualize his vision of enhanced food production in the state.
He said that with the governor’s massive road infrastructure and human capital development, it would not be long for Abia to emerge the hub of Agricbusiness in the Southern Nigeria.
The director also commended the delegation for their incisive questions and deep interest in the operations of the Centre, and assured them of the prompt services of MOUAU Agricbusiness Incubation Centre.
Present at the visit were Prof Nneoma Obasi, Dean, College of Applied Food Science and Technology,; Prof Ifeoma Onwuka, Director, Centre for Gender and Child Development and top staff of the Agricbusiness Incubation Centre.
valoa2000@yahoo.com
