BY DAVID OBES
Delta State Deputy Governor, Barr Kingsley Otuaro, has disclosed that the establishment of Songhai Integrated Farm, at Amukpe Sapele fits squarely into the prosperity agenda of the Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa led government of Delta State.
The state deputy governor said the integrated agro-based Company, Songhai Delta Amukpe, has come to occupy its proper place as a driver of the socio-economic programmes of the Delta state government, adding that the state government is not only going to see to the expansion of Songhai integrated farms, but will also see to the up grading of its infrastructure.
Barr Otuaro, who stated this yesterday during his official working visit to the revamped Songhai Delta Amukpe company, Sapele Local Government Area, Delta State, noted that the agro- based company was established to create employment and thereby alleviating poverty among the people as well as impacting the youths with skill acquisition in the different departments of agriculture.
“This is of course necessary is to optimally utilise the facilities herein in Songhai to meet the very purpose for which Songhai integrated farms was established. I want to reaffirmed very strongly that the present government is poised to do that it has promised, and in no distant time Songhai will become the model it was made to be and it will become the foremost research centre for all Nigerian university students” Barr. Otuaro stated.
The state deputy governor in the company of, Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mrs Mary Iyesere, Chairman, Sapele local government Council, Hon. Barr. Ejaiefe Odebala, and some other top government functionaries inspected some of the revamped units at Songhai Delta, which includes; Grasscutters Units, Piggery, Quails, Broilers, Fish Pond and Snail units. Other units also inspected are the Hatchery, Pastry and Milk processing, Soya Beans processing as well as the Feed mill units. The state deputy governor was also shown the students hostel as well the Songhai Guest houses.
Barr. Otuaro noted that as a government that have promised Deltans prosperity, as encapsulated in its SMART agenda, some of the components parts of the agenda has to do with reforms in agricultural sector, accelerating industrialization, creating wealth for the people and providing jobs for teaming and unemployed youths in Delta State in particular.
According to him, this is very necessary as recently, the international market price of oil has been dawdling, saying that the oil and gas resources is dipletable and the economy can no longer be sustained in a mono economy like the country is operating on. He asserted that this has called for the diversification of the economy, noting that agriculture is one sure way go in order to move forward.
The state deputy governor while commending the management, students and staff of Songhai Integrated Farm on their activities in upgrading the farm thus far, used the occasion to called on all Deltans to avail themselves of the on going public hearing of the DESOPADEC amendment bill.
According to him, the DESOPADEC amendment bill was sent to the State House of Assembly some few weeks ago by the governor. He noted that the purpose of that bill was basically to restructure the commission in line with what is obtainable in NDDC. It is meant to ensure managerial stability of the commission, to ensure that the management of the commission live up to its expectations in terms of quality staffing.
The deputy governor assured that the bill is not ill intended and motivated as insinuated in some parts of the states. “I want to say once again there is an on-going public hearing in relation to the DESOPADEC amendment bill and as a people oriented goverment, we take serious cognisance of the opinion of the people and Deltans should avail themselves the opportunity of the public hearing to make their various inputs that will bring out the very best of the amendments bill when it becomes law. So that together we will be able to deliver our prosperity to all Deltans through the various institutions of government”. Barr Otuaro said.
Earlier, the Executive Consultant, Songhai Delta Amukpe, Dr. Theophilus Okpidi, in his address, noted that Songhai Delta is an integrated agro-based company, whose vision is aimed at production, poverty alleviation, incorporating an incubator of skills acquisition.
Dr. Okpidi who commended the State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa and his Deputy, for their encouragement and timely visit to inspect the facilities on ground, stated that the venture is also aimed at leadership and entrepreneurial training.
Backed by strong philosophy of discipline and appreciation of dignity of labour and more importantly to key into the giant stride of the Okowa’s administration to move Deltans to prosperity through its SMART agenda, Dr. Okpidi noted that the relevance of sustainable agriculture in this regard cannot be over emphasized.
While noting some of its challenges before the deputy governor, which includes, re-imbursement of funds earlier approved by government to enable it accomplish some aspects of the revamping process, he noted that the centre was established to produce high quality agro and agro based materials and also to empower youths and other interested people in agricultural production.
Highlights of the the visit was the presentation of award of honour to the state deputy governor by the National Association of Delta State Students Training in Songhai, Delta State.
