Ikoeazu says IFAD project has improved lives in Abia
GOVERNOR Okezie Ikpeazu of abia state has extolled the role of the International Fund For agricultural Development (IFAD) and lively-hood Improvement International agricultural Fund agency in the war against poverty and unemployment in the state.
Ikpeazu, made the commendation, while receiving IFAD team in Government lodge, aba, the state’s commercial hub, and noted that lives had been changed in the state, by his Government, through programmes, like life-nd.
Ikpeazu further informed his guests that his administration had built rural roads to aid the cultivation and evacuation of farm produce from local villages and assured that improvement would be made on any area where nenecessary.
He further assured the IFAD and life-nd officials that abia is safe for residency and investment, while pledging his government’s commitment to payment of counterpart funds.
The Governor disclosed that funds received from international agencies, especially IFAD had been utilised in creating wealth, praised the abia state office of life-nd, led by Uchenna Onyeizu for making the state proud.
sani abiodun, National coordinator of life-nd, noted that they were in the abia to conduct a field assessment of what it has done in the state and to interact with all stakeholders to know their levels of achievement and challenges .
also welcoming the team, abia state Commissioner for agriculture, Ikechi Mgbeoji commended IFAD and abia life-nd for keeping to the original vision of the programme, assuring that abia state is safe for investors.
Mgbeoji, who warned youths against prioritising frivolities above skill acquisition and trainings, made it clear that abia life-nd projects correspond with Igbo apprenticeship virtues.
life-nd projects in parts of the state were inspected by the IFAD and life-nd officials with abia receiving a high score for its achievements, while some beneficiaries recalled how life-nd facilities gave them employment.
The team led by George Polemakis , also has sani abiodun, the national coordinator of IFAD, NDDC, officials from east africa and senior officials of Federal Ministry of agriculture, as well as Federal Ministry of Finance .