Enugu Governor Hails ATASP1’s giant strides in agricultural revolution

By Obinna Onuorah

Enugu state Governor, Bar. Peter Mbah, has hailed the Agricultural Transformation Agenda Support Program Phase One (ATASP-1), Adani-Omor Zone for spearheading agricultural transformation in select communities in Anambra and Enugu States.

Governor Mbah gave the commendation while addressing participants during the 14th Zonal Steering Committee Meeting of ATASP-1 Adani-Omor zone held on Wednesday, 23rd August 2023 at the Bridge Waters Hotel, Enugu.

The Governor, represented by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Agro-Industrialisation, Mr. Patrick Nwabueze Ubru, stressed that ATASP-1 intervention programs and projects were in sync with the development agenda of the newly constituted state government and assured the program of its support and partnership.

“ATASP-1 is creating 21st century agricultural businesses in rural communities and providing sustainable employment and engagement of rural people especially youths and women in Adani axis of Enugu state and Omor axis of Anambra state”, he said.

Ubru further attested that ATASP-1 intervention has led to reduced restiveness among the youths in rural areas making them productively engaged he said. Anambra Commissioner of Agriculture, Dr. Forster Ihejiofor, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Anambra state, Barr Chinedu Ike, also hailed ATASP-1 as an important partner in the efforts of Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration in transforming the state into a green economy.

Earlie in his opening remarks, the Zonal Program Coordinator, ATASP-1 Adani-Omor zone, Dr. Romanus Egba said that the meeting was organized to enable major stakeholders drawn across the seven participating local government areas in Anambra and Enugu states, agric commissioners, the ministry top officials to review project progress performance and offer suggestions for better project implementation.

Mr. Victor Ngwu, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Enugu state, who chaired the meeting, urged the government of Anambra and Enugu states to ensure prompt payment of their counterpart funds as a demonstration of their commitment to the agricultural development intervention under ATASP-1.

Among the landmark resolutions reached the meeting was a fresh mandate to the Agric Commissioners of Anambra and Enugu States and the Permanent Secretary of their respective Ministry of Agriculture to pursue with vigor a new counterpart payment request by ATASP-1 Adani-Omor Zonal Management to enable the zone to meet its budgetary financial obligations under counterpart funding.

The meeting equally resolved to work closely with local government Chairmen, to ensure that markets and other social/ancillary infrastructures built under ATASP-1 are well utilized and managed.