By Ifeanyichukwu Daniel Ogiriki
Obiaruku: I want to start this write up by commending Chief Meshack C. Opone for taking the bold step of investing in Ndokwa land against all odds. As a retired staff of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Chief Meshack C. Opone invested his gratuity and pension in a modern farm along Umuebu/Obiaruku road. This is highly commendable and I urge other well passed Ndokwans to borrow a leaf from Chief Meshack C. Opone by investing in Ndokwa land. Chief Meshack Opone is doing modern Agriculture with the use of improved seedlings and mechanized farming. According to him, he employed 25 persons when he commenced his farm project.
We deliberated on several issues that affects Ndokwa nation including the issue of mentorship. As an Engineer I know the essence of mentorship in every field of life but sadly enough, Ndokwa youths are lacking a lot in the area of Mentorship. As a student member of Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Uniben chapter we had programs like “Young Professionals” where we interact with the professionals in the oil and gas industry and we tap from their knowledge of experience in the field. We also had Student Technical and Exhibition Confenerence (STCE) annually and some of us were usually sponsored to attend SPE National Annual International Conference and Exhibition (NAICE). Our slogan in SPE is “we run out of oil when we run out of idea.”
Chief Meshack Opone emphatically stated that “Human Capital Development is the best form of development.” Our discussion with Chief Meshack Opone lasted for over 3 hours. The need for us to work together in order to get the DPR certified copy of the Oil and gas production quantum of Ndokwa nation was also discussed. Chief Opone went ahead to display some of the improved seedlings he has and talked about his experience as a modern farmer in Ndokwa land. He also talked about his desire to partner with various groups and individuals to encourage mechanized farming and the use of improved seedlings in our farming practice in Ndokwa land.
Due to the rains we couldn’t visit his farm. We hope to visit his farm someday soon. Some of the crops Chief Meshack Opone grows in his farm include: Cucumber, Tomatoes, Melon, Corn e.t.c. He usually gets his improved corn seedlings from Pioneer Hi-breed in the United States of America. He is really passionate about the type of farming he is currently doing in Ndokwa land.
