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Otti Constitutes Committee To Drive Abia’s Agricultural Industrialisation
Otti Constitutes Committee To Drive Abia’s Agricultural Industrialisation
…Ulonna Farm Settlement To Kick-Start Initiative
Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has announced plans to set up a committee with the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike MOUAU and other stakeholders to develop a framework for harnessing the state’s agricultural potential and promoting export oriented farming.
The initiative is aimed at identifying crops in which Abia has a comparative advantage and determining the investments, infrastructure and technology required to transform them into commercially viable enterprises.
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Governor Otti announced the plan on Thursday, at the third Michael Iheonukara Okpara Memorial Lecture Series held at the New Public Lecture Theatre of MOUAU, organised to in honour of Dr. Michael Okpara, the premier of the defunct Easter Region.
The Governor called for the integration of the late Dr Michael Iheonukara Okpara’s agricultural vision with modern technology to drive industrialisation, food self-sufficiency and economic growth.
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He said the initiative would begin with the Ulonna farm settlements, with the objective of moving beyond subsistence farming to large-scale agricultural production and positioning Abia as a net exporter of agricultural produce.
“I want us to start with the Ulonna farm settlements. We may not go back to what Michael Okpara did in his days.
“We want to take it to this level now, where we introduce technology, and we don’t only want to be self-sufficient in food production; we want to be a net exporter of food from Abia State”, Governor Otti said.
The Governor explained that the proposed committee would comprise representatives of the state government, the university and other relevant stakeholders, adding that the government was prepared to invest in the process.
He said the team would identify priority commodities and develop practical strategies for exploiting their commercial potential, with a target of achieving significant progress within six months to one year.
“We will take a clean slate, and then we will look at all those areas where we have comparative advantage and put everything that is required in place to ensure that, in the next six months or one year, we become an important power in cocoa, potatoes and other agricultural commodities”, Governor Otti stated.
The Governor called for the adoption of modern technologies, including drones, artificial intelligence and robotics, to improve productivity and strengthen agricultural value chains.
He cited Ethiopia’s agricultural development as an example Nigeria could learn from and recounted how his recent visit to the country had challenged his perception of what was possible in the sector.
Governor Otti expressed optimism that Nigeria could still achieve substantial progress, noting that the late Michael Okpara had established agricultural development initiatives in the 1960s that remained relevant to contemporary challenges.
The governor urged MOUAU and other stakeholders to support the initiative by translating research findings into practical solutions for farming and agro-industrial development.
He also welcomed a proposal by the guest lecturer to establish an agricultural technology hub at the university, saying it could complement the state government’s plans to promote technology-driven agriculture.
Governor Otti reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to supporting the university, describing it as a strategic partner in Abia’s agricultural and economic development.
He commended the university’s management and the organisers of the memorial lecture for sustaining the legacy of Michael Okpara, whose emphasis on agricultural development and purposeful leadership has continued to inform discussions on Nigeria’s economic future.
Delivering a lecture titled “Leveraging Technology in Agriculture: Building Digital Rails for Food Security, Agro-Enterprise and Financial Inclusion”, guest lecturer and founder Payaza Africa Ltd, Seyi Ebenezer urged Nigerians, particularly young people, to embrace technology, digital innovation and modern business models to unlock agriculture’s potential.
He highlighted opportunities in drone technology, automated irrigation, artificial intelligence, digital credit scoring, supply-chain logistics and cross-border fintech, stressing that technology should empower farmers to improve productivity, produce quality and market value.
Ebenezer also commended Governor Alex Otti for transforming Abia State, noting that the negative narratives previously associated with the state were gradually disappearing.
In her address, the Vice-Chancellor of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Prof. Ursula Akanwa, described the former Premier of the defunct Eastern Region, Dr Michael Iheonukara Okpara as a symbol of purposeful leadership and agricultural transformation, having demonstrated how agriculture could drive economic growth, industrialisation, employment and social development.
The Vice Chancellor who highlighted the potential of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, precision farming, biotechnology and digital agricultural markets, to boost productivity, said that the university was committed to translating the legacy of the late Dr Michael Okpara, into practical solutions.
She added that the institution’s ambition was to become a leading agricultural hub in the South East region and the country at large with its priorities aligned with President Bola Tinubu and Governor Otti’s agricultural reforms and commended the governor for his continued support for the university, noting that improvements to its physical environment reflected his commitment to the institution.
The third Michael Okpara Memorial Lecture chaired by oil magnet, Prince Arthur Eze, represented by Prince Dr Emeka Eze, featured the unveiling of Michael Okpara statue in the University and attracted many dignitaries including the son of late premier, Chief Uzodinma Okpara.
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