Abia State Governor Alex Otti Pledges Support to CSS Farms Trainees

Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has assured the 300 beneficiaries of the State-sponsored Modern Agricultural Skills and Practices Training Programme at CSS Integrated Farms in Nasarawa State of the government's immediate support to help them establish their agricultural ventures.

[caption id="attachment_180325" align="alignnone" width="2048"] 300 beneficiaries of the State-sponsored Modern Agricultural Skills and Practices Training Programme at CSS Integrated Farms in Nasarawa State[/caption]

The assurance came during the graduation and passing out ceremony of the trainees, which Governor Otti personally attended, highlighting the strategic importance of the agricultural sector to his administration. "For us as a government, we will do everything possible to support you to set up," Governor Otti stated. "Just a moment ago, I was asking Prof. John-Kennedy Opara what would be the best way to support you so that you will hit the ground running immediately, and he shared a few ideas with me. I told him that we will work together to ensure you lack nothing to be able to set up."

Governor Otti reiterated the critical role of food security, emphasizing, "This is the most important sector of our economy. Talking about food security, everything you do is around being alive, and the only way you will be alive is if you are able to eat. If you don't have anything to eat, it's a matter of time before you die, so we take it very, very seriously."

The governor congratulated the 300 beneficiaries and expressed optimism that they would apply their new skills and knowledge and help train others upon returning home. "I want to congratulate all of you for successfully passing through the training, and I have no doubt that as you come back home, you are going to be useful not just to your immediate family and community but also to the State and humanity," he said.

Dr. Otti urged the beneficiaries to share the knowledge and skills they acquired with others in Abia State. "I have no doubt that as you go back, you will put into practice all the things you have learned. Most importantly, you will also be able to train others in Abia State."

He commended the beneficiaries for being good ambassadors of Abia State and expressed deep appreciation to the management and staff of CSS Global Integrated Farms for their excellent training. Hon. Ibe Okwara Osonwa, representing Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency, accompanied the governor to the farm.

Earlier, Prof. John-Kennedy Opara, the founder and Chief Executive Officer of CSS Global Integrated Farms, provided an overview of the training highlights. The event also featured the presentation of gifts and certificates to the beneficiaries. Each beneficiary received an electronic tablet containing all the training materials for easy reference and revision.

The beneficiaries expressed their profound gratitude to Governor Otti for the life-changing opportunity and thanked the management and staff of CSS Global Integrated Farms for exposing them to modern agricultural skills and techniques. They promised to apply what they had learned and to train others.

[caption id="attachment_180324" align="alignnone" width="2048"] Abia State Governor Alex Otti Pledges Support to CSS Farms Trainees[/caption]