Abia State Governor ,Dr. Alex Otti, has flagged off the disbursement of interest- free agricultural empowerment loan to 298 individuals trained at the CSS Farm, in Nasarawa State by the state Government.

The Governor stated that he is determined to create a new pathway of wealth for its citizens by providing them the needed support to make the most of the available resources domiciled in the State.

Otti,who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, disclosed that the state government is committed to making agriculture a fulcrum of economic development and job creation policies.

He said; “The state government is determined to create a new pathway of wealth for its citizens by providing them the needed support to make the most of the available resources domiciled in the State.

“This sets a foundation for a new model of empowerment designed to effectively make our people financially independent in the long run, working for themselves and adding real value to our gross domestic output.”

He further announced a new set of programmes to cushion the effect of hardship in the country in the next few weeks.

“The Labour Party government is determined to do things differently. In the last 16 months ,we have focused on the common people on how to uplift their economic and social conditions.

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“The government expects much from the beneficiaries. More money would be made available to those who are committed to the project. I urge the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the funds.”

Earlier, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Cliff Agbaeze said the trained farmers will train 3 others each, while the state will also train more to continue its multiplier effect.

He also stated that the government intended to mainstream modern agricultural practices into the educational curriculum beginning from the basics.

Agbaeze disclosed that the Ministry of Agriculture has put in place a monitoring schedule to monitor progress of the beneficiaries.

Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Chioma Onyekachi commended the Governor for sending them to be trained at the CSS Farm and assured that they would utilize the loan judiciously and contribute to the food security in the State.