NOSDRA Director General Disburses N50,000 Grants to Over 300 Farmers in Emohua, Rivers State
EMOHUA/Nigeria: In a strategic move to strengthen food security and empower small-scale farmers, Engr. Chukwuemeka Woke, the Director General of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), has disbursed grants to over 300 farmers across the 14 wards of Emohua Local Government Area (LGA) in Rivers State.
The beneficiaries, including 200 women, party supporters, aides to the former chairman, and social media aides, received N50,000 each in financial support as part of the Renewed Hope Back to Farm Support Initiative. The excited farmers left the distribution event in Isiodo community beaming with hope for their agricultural ventures.
Engr. Woke explained that the initiative aims to assist small-scale farmers by providing financial assistance for renting land, purchasing staple crops, and covering the costs of clearing and weeding farmlands, ensuring a successful harvest by the year’s end.
“This is in alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu and the First Lady’s Back to Farm initiative. By December, we hope to see bountiful harvests, particularly of cassava, which can be processed into garri and sold for significant profit,” Woke shared.
He further explained that while Emohua’s residents are known for their subsistence farming, securing land and financing for farm preparations has been a financial burden for some. The grants are intended to alleviate these challenges, making farming more accessible and sustainable for local farmers.
“The true essence of empowerment is to equip people with the resources they need to sustain themselves and contribute to the greater good,” Woke said. “This initiative will have a positive impact on the beneficiaries and play a significant role in enhancing food security in Rivers State.”
The event, which showcased a collaborative spirit across political parties, featured Dr. Benibo George, the PDP State Secretary, who praised the initiative as a meaningful step toward human development. He urged beneficiaries to utilize the funds wisely, stressing that farming is vital to the region’s economy.
Tony Okocha, the APC State Chairman, expressed gratitude to the coordinator of the initiative and Minister Nyesom Wike for their ongoing support. He encouraged the recipients to take full advantage of the grants, highlighting agriculture’s vast potential for economic growth in the state.
Agriculture stakeholders have commended the initiative as a key effort in achieving food security in Nigeria. Several beneficiaries, including Uchechukwu Otuonu, expressed gratitude for the financial support, vowing to use the grant effectively to advance their farming practices and contribute to the agricultural development of the state.
“I am truly grateful to be among those receiving this grant, and I pray that God blesses those who made this possible,” said Otuonu.
