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Tag: Joe Okojie

  • Edo, CBN partner to boost state’s agripreneur programme

    Determined to provide farmers with access to funding and other inputs to increase productivity, the Edo state Government has partnered with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on a synergy between the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme and the state’s Agripreneur programme.

    Special Adviser to the Edo State Governor on Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security Programme, Joe Okojie disclosed this during a one-day sensitisation programme for farmers in Owan West and Ovia North East Local Government Areas of the state.

    He said the programme is aimed at creating awareness on the use of modern techniques in rice and maize farming, urging the farmers to adopt Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) to attain high yields.

    READ ALSO: Edo secures N5bn loan for rice, maize production

    The governor’s aide stressed that the state government will leverage on the CBN Anchor Borrowers’ program to redefine her agripreneur and agribusiness programmes.

    Stressing that the state is working with some strategic partners to strengthen the agriculture value chain, he said the government has secured financing for the projects, which can only be assessed by the farmers when necessary requirements have been met.

    Chairman, Owan West Local Government Area, Mr Frank Ileboya urged the farmers to make good use of the opportunity as it could be a life-changing experience.

    One of the farmers, Onotaye Afrodeem, described the initiative as laudable and expressed gratitude to the state government.

    He added: “We are impressed and happy with the meeting we had with the Special Adviser on Agriculture. I want to use this medium to assure the state government that we are very prepared to farm and we will not disappoint.”

  • Edo signs tripartite agreement to benefit 455 cassava farmers

    In a renewed drive to diversify the economic base of the state for expansion, the Edo State Government has signed a tripartite agreement with the Elephant Group and Heritage Agro Allied Foods (H2AFoods), of United States of America (USA), to strengthen the cassava value chain, which would benefit not less than 445 farmers across the state.

    At the signing of the tripartite agreement, in Government House on Tuesday, Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security, Joe Okojie, said the cassava project would  span across the three senatorial districts of the state while financing of the project has been secured and disbursed to the farmers.

    According to him, “238 hectares of land will be utilised in Edo North; 223 ha in Edo Central and 206 ha in Edo South. The farmers have been aggregated across the three districts and each farmer will get one and a half hectares of farmland.”

    He said the state government would assist the farmers in land clearing, secure inputs while planting would commence at the end of April.

    “We are bringing all the players across the value chain together and we have secured the loan for each farmer under the Anchor Borrowers Programme. The state government will be helping to de-risk land clearing and provide off-takers for the cassava farmers.”

    Executive Director, Elephant Group, Akin Ogunbiyi, said the company is determined to transform cassava flour into industrial food ingredient and packaged convenience food in Nigeria and Africa at large.

    He explained that the company has processing centres across the state and would buy directly from the cassava farmers.

    “We want to add value to what the farmers are producing and are guaranteeing the off-take for the products. We have our processors in Edo North, Central, and South senatorial districts. Each is located close to the farmers,” Ogunbiyi added.

  • APC leaders in Esan North East pass vote of confidence on Obaseki

    Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Esan North East Local Government Area have passed a vote of confidence on the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration over the governor’s laudable developmental strides across the state.

    The unanimous vote was passed during a meeting between the governor and political leaders in Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area, Edo State.

    Special Adviser to the Governor on Food Security, Agriculture and Forestry Programme, Prince Joe Okojie, who moved the motion for the vote, noted “we are proud of the laudable achievements of the governor across all sectors of the state including Esan North East LGA.”

    Leaders of the APC, who attended the meeting, include Chief J.P. Okoroh, Chief Ted Inegbedion, Hon. Joe Usifoh, among a host of others drawn from Esan North East LGA.

    Read Also: Obaseki okays solar solution for rural schools

    They made it clear that the vote of confidence on the governor was on his person, his administration and leadership style, in governing the state.

    At the meeting, Obaseki told the party leaders that he will not relent in his vision for the state’s transformation through human and infrastructural development.

    The leaders thanked the governor for establishing the School of Forestry and Environmental Technology in Uromi, as part of the Edo State College of Agriculture, Iguoriakhi.

  • Massive turnout in Edo council polls

    Massive turnout in Edo council polls

    There was massive turnout of voters in Saturday’s local government elections held across the 18 local government areas despite the boycott by the Peoples Democratic Party.

    Ten other political parties participated in the elections.

    Sensitive materials arrive some polling units like Ward five in Uromi, Esan North East local government.

    Voting started in many polling units as early as 8am.

    Special Adviser to Governor Godwin Obaseki on Agriculture, Prince Joe Okojie, who voted at about 10am at Uromi Girls Primary School said the massive turnout was a reflection of the peoples’ trust in the APC led Government.

    Prince Okojie noted the non-participation of the PDP in the election was a sign of the final defeat of the PDP.

    Okojie said the people want a replication of Obaseki’s wake and see performance at the local level.

    Governor Godwin Obaseki who spoke after he voted at about 12.30 pm, the election was peaceful. He said many supporters of the PDP have defected to the ruling APC in almost all units and wards across the state.

    Obaseki stated that the opposition PDP was no longer existing in the state.

    His words, “I think it is logical because every politicians aspires from his unit and if you do not give him the opportunity he will seek it from outside. So that was what happened. We can confidently say that the opposition party is none existence in Edo State.

    Read Also: Edo holds council polls Saturday

    “This is a precursor to 2019, Edo State as you see it is on lock down for APC. So may be the contest will be outside Edo State but Edo State is an APC state.

    “What has happened is that the councillors themselves, the candidates, have gone out to mobilize people. I had challenged them that the votes they obtained in their election must be bigger than mine when I ran for election.

    “I have been monitoring the distribution of materials since morning, reports reaching me says that things have gone on smoothly”.

    At Iyamho in Etsako West Local Government Area, immediate past Governor of the state, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole,  said the local elections was a confirmation of the final liquidation of the PDP in the state.

    “You can see people are celebrating democracy at the grassroots. They are more interested in local elections because that is the man they can see everyday. You can see people are keen to vote.

    “With this election, We have just completed the liquidation of the PDP. There is no further proof of that liquidation other than that they have on their own admitted to defeat. They don’t regard the people who vote for them at the grassroots. They have my sympathy. This was the promise that from a party that used to arrogantly rig people out and ask you to go to court.

    “We have demystified them and enthrenched one man one vote which is an area they don’t have competence. They are not used to voting, they are used to writing results. It shows for them they are ready to spend in the big elections. That they are not interested in the elections for local people reveal their character. I feel fullfiled that in my lifetime, the PDP surrendered without a blow.

    “Their going to court was an excuse to their members that the are alive.”

    At Ologbosere Primary School voting centre, Ikpoba-Okha Ward 7, with 39 units, the turn out of voters was impressive, just as it was at Itohan Secondary School voting centre, Ikpoba-Okha Ward 6.

    Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie and Hon Ehiozuwa Agbonayinma described the election as peaceful and urged those remaining in the PDP to join the APC.

  • ‘Why we temporary stopped fertilizer production’

    ‘Why we temporary stopped fertilizer production’

    Management of the Edo Fertilizer Plant and Chemical Company Limited in Auchi, Estako West local government area, has explained why it temporary stopped production of fertilizer.

    It said its production plant stopped because its stores were filled with over 30,000 bags of fertilizers.

    The plant was commissioned in August last year by Vice President Yemi Osibanjo and being the only fertilizer blending plant in the region, it is expected to produce 60,000 metric tons of fertilizer for Edo and other neighboring states

    After 17 years of being moribund, the fertilizer plant was revitalized last year under the Presidential Initiative on Fertilizer (PIF) with a view to selling fertilizers to farmers in the country at N5,500 per bag.

    State Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, Chief Dan Orbih, had last week challenged the state government to bags of fertilizers produced from the plant.

    However, the fertilizer plant management who took journalists on a fact finding visit tour of the plant said the plant was still operational.

    Factory manager of the plant, Mr. Iyere Okhun, who spoke on behalf of the management said it was wrong for people to say the plant has stopped working when produced products have not been sold.

    According to him, “For the few days, we were able to produce more than 30,000 bags that is about 51 trucks of a 600 bags truck. As at yesterday, we have loaded out six trucks.

    “We are expecting order for 11 trucks so that we can start production again. We stopped production because of space constraint. Our stores are filled.

    “Now that, we are getting orders for supply, we are getting the space back and the plant will start again. What is stopping us is not lack of raw materials but space for storage. We can do 60,000 metric tons per annum.

    “We are getting power 15 hours daily but we want them to give us more. As the farming season has started, we are receiving orders from farmers. We are set to load out 18 truckswithin two weeks. Our plant is running but we reduced the two shifts to one interchanging them because of space.”

    Special Adviser to Governor Godwin Obaseki on Agriculture, Prince Joe Okojie, said there are abundance of fertilizers for farmers in the state.

    His words, “I came to see what they have in stock. We are getting our farmers ready to go to the farms. They have been are producing and storing fertilizers. I came to make sure fertilizers are available for our farmers. You can see that there is abundance of fertilizers. They will be made available as we need them. There is no doubt about the plant’s working ability.”