ASABA/Nigeria: The Deputy Governor of Delta State, Sir Monday Onyeme, FCA, has underscored the significance of investing in the agricultural sector as a major driver of employment in the region.
Speaking during a courtesy call by members of the Coalition of Delta State Farmers and the state chapter of Poultry Farmers Association of Nigeria, Onyeme praised the administration of Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori for its commitment to agricultural development through the M.O.R.E. Agenda.
“Our administration is paying serious attention to agriculture because the agricultural sector provides the largest source of employment for Deltans; it is the largest industry and the most sustainable business that can take Nigeria out of extreme poverty,” stated Deputy Governor Onyeme.
Emphasizing the unique advantages of Nigeria’s agricultural potential, Onyeme stressed that the country should concentrate on enhancing its agricultural sector rather than attempting to compete with advanced nations in the field of technology. “We cannot compete with the advanced nations of the world technologically,” he remarked, “we could improve our agricultural industry and conveniently compete with them in that area because God has blessed us with good soil and abundant landmass.”
He further expounded, “Let us begin to face reality; if we don’t develop our agriculture, we cannot go anywhere as a nation. We cannot compete with the western world on Information Communication Technology because they will always be steps ahead of us in that area, and we will be trying to catch up. But we can compete with them in agriculture, we can even exceed them because God has blessed us with good land for agriculture, and even our seeds and water are suitable for production. All that we need is to concentrate our energy where we have the strength, so, as a nation, agriculture is the way to go.”
Deputy Governor Onyeme affirmed the commitment of the administration to advance agriculture in Delta State, with the goal of making the state a focal point of reference within the federation for others to emulate.
Prior to this address, the leaders of the Coalition of Delta State Farmers and the Poultry Farmers Association of Nigeria expressed their felicitations to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and Deputy Governor Onyeme for their electoral victory. They called on the government to initiate programs that would promote the agricultural sector and alleviate the challenges faced by farmers in the state.
Among the dignitaries present at the occasion were Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Hon. Julius Egbedi, the Secretary of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the state, Engr. Dan Ossai, and the Deputy Chief of Staff, Government House, Sir Christopher Osakwe.
