Agriculture And Irrigation Development Commissioner, Johnson Ebokpo Jnr Honours Graduands and Industrial Trainees From Cross River Basin Development Authority in Calabar

Agriculture And Irrigation Development Commissioner, Johnson Ebokpo Jnr Honours Graduands and Industrial Trainees From Cross River Basin Development Authority in Calabar

By © JAE media

It was an  Epoch making Event as the Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Hon. Johnson Ebokpo Jr. graced the occasion of 2nd graduation ceremony of 210 Youths and I.T Students organized by the management of Cross River Basin Development Authority.

In his good will message, Commissioner Ebokpo who was very certified on noticing irrigation pipes  in the integrated farm despite the small size of the farm, thanked the workaholic Managing Director for the innovation, remarking  that he deserved a national honour over the laudable and visible strides,adding that the farm is well integrated  to encompass various units in agriculture sector such as fishing, live stocking, crops planting among others.

He pledged that his ministry shall invest heavily in school farming project as a measure to encourage  youths involvement in agricultural activities and ignite in them the interest to study agricultural courses to even masters level.

Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development assured them of His excellency, Prince Bassey Edet Otu  clear mandate of priortising agriculture as the main source of growing the state's GDP.

The programme which was the  2nd edition since its inception is developed to primarily provide a practical baseline knowledge  for students studying agricultural sciences in various tertiary institutions across the state and country by extension,  in order to specialize in their courses of study.

Giving further explanations about the programme, The Managing Director of Cross River Basin Development, Calabar Engr. Bassey Edem Nkposong, elucidated that, apart from the programme serving as a practical centre for all agriculturist, it is also targeted at getting  youths off the street to engage in meaningful agribusinesses, which will drastically reduce restiveness and insecurity among youths, reduce unemployment rate of the country  to  minimum level among youths and spur up social infrastructure in catchment areas where these programmes are been implemented. 

Engr. Nkposong announced a one year facilitation of land and farm inputs to the graduate trainees as starter pack for their agribusinesses.

Speaking on behalf of The graduate trainees who specialized  in various agricultural value chain areas  such as  mushroom production, fishery , livestock farming , irrigation technology among others, Eneobong Bassey Eneobong  thanked the 

Management for building their capacities and promised to put the knowledge into use by  venturing fully into  Agribusiness to improve their lives.

He appealed to the Management of Cross River Basin Development and the State Government to support them in establishing and sustainably managing agribusiness of their choice.

Similarly, the occasion was also graced  by the Cross River State Commissioner for land, Chief Francis Ekpeyong, who assured of  government support in terms of provision of land for Agricultural Development in the state.

Commissioner Ebokpo was accompanied by the Director, Agric Engineering department, Engr. Mrs. Justina Ulafor and Head of  Technical team, Mr. Dennis Ikpali to grace the event.