The wife of the Governor of Abia State, Mrs. Priscilla Otti, has called on Abia youths to embrace agriculture as a pathway to prosperity and a viable strategy for reducing poverty across the state.
Mrs. Otti made the call during a youth agricultural empowerment training held at the Umuahia North Secretariat. The programme was organized under the Renewed Hope Initiative of the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, in collaboration with the Office of the Wife of the Governor of Abia State.
Represented by the wife of the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Adaeze Emetu, Mrs. Otti described agriculture as the backbone of the economy, noting that it was exciting to witness young people taking a keen interest in the sector. She reaffirmed her office’s commitment to youth and community empowerment through sustainable agricultural practices aimed at improving livelihoods.
“Our goal is to provide training, resources, and support that will enable local farmers, especially the youth, to build resilient agribusinesses and increase their income,” she stated.
In a significant move, Mrs. Otti announced the disbursement of N12 million in cash grants to 120 beneficiaries under the Abia Youth Agricultural Support Programme—an initiative designed to equip youths with both the knowledge and capital to kick-start their ventures in agriculture.
Mrs. Otti also commended Governor Alex Otti for his unwavering support of farmers and his administration’s efforts to create an enabling environment that allows agripreneurs to thrive and contribute meaningfully to the state’s economic growth. She further appreciated the skilled trainers and facilitators of the programme for their crucial roles and encouraged the beneficiaries to remain focused, innovative, and committed to transforming their communities through agriculture.
Also speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Cliff Agbaeze, charged the beneficiaries to live up to the expectations of the programme and praised Governor Otti for being youth-friendly and gender-sensitive.
In goodwill messages, the Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Sir Nwobilor; Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Maureen Aghukwa; and the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Elder Goodluck Ubochi, represented by Elder Ihuoma Ukaegbu, encouraged youths to embrace agriculture as a means of ensuring food security. They also lauded the infrastructural strides of the Governor and expressed gratitude to Senator Oluremi Tinubu and Mrs. Priscilla Otti for the laudable initiative.
The Mayor of Umuahia North Local Government Area, Chief Smart Ihuoma, represented by Mr. Kingsley, appreciated the Governor’s wife for extending the empowerment programme to the grassroots and offered prayers for her continued success.
In a vote of thanks, one of the beneficiaries, Miss Joan Chikezie, outlined the training they received, which included mushroom farming and beekeeping. She expressed gratitude to Senator Tinubu and Mrs. Otti for the opportunity, promising to apply the knowledge gained productively.
The event, which featured the empowerment of 120 youths with cash and technical training, attracted the presence of local government mayors and top government officials.
