Through better healthcare facilities, high-quality education, and food security, the Imo State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to improving the quality of life for Imo residents in partnership with the United Nations International Children’s Education Fund (UNICEF) and other development organisations.
Governor Hope Uzodimma said this at the New Exco Chambers, Government House, Owerri, during a courtesy visit by a team of global organisations working on nutrition and food security in Nigeria, including the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), UNICEF, FHI-360, and Results for Development.
The Governor expressed joy that Imo was among the focal States for the intervention programmes and projects. He noted that the programmes align with his administration’s core values of “providing sustainable development, promoting quality living, and emancipating our people.”
He disclosed that his administration established a University of Agriculture as part of its business template to address food security, with the idea “to promote practical agriculture, boost food production for food sufficiency and export for foreign currency earning.”
Earlier, Rt. Hon. Okafor disclosed that the funding partners and donor Agencies on food and nutrition were mandated to support national and subnational governments in improving nutrition and making food available for the people.
Rt. Hon. Okafor commended the Governor for the holistic approach to development across the State and noted the untiring efforts of the Governor’s team to make the visit fruitful.
He appreciated the Agencies for the commitments made in Imo State, especially FAO, a subset of the United Nations, which has already started a programme in Imo State that runs into hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Contributing, the Country Director, Nutrition Intervention, Dr. Osita Okonkwo, and UNICEF Chief of Field Office Enugu, Mrs. Juliet Chilewe, commended the Imo State Governor for the commitments made in promoting the well-being and development of children and for intervening to restore peace in the State.
They utilised the occasion to solicit support for their next summit in July. They urged the governor to take seriously the improvements in Imo State’s citizens’ nutrition, especially that of mothers and children.
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture’s National Programme Manager/Director, Dr. Nuhu Kilishi, revealed that stakeholders will be consulted to choose one school to create a Junior Farmers Club, where pupils will receive training and equipment in various agricultural topics.
Dr. Victor Ogbodo, the Country Director of FHI-360, and Dr. Felix Obi, the Country Director of Results For Development, were among the other representatives who talked and argued for better nutrition in Imo State.
Source: The Nation
Image Credit: Imo State New Media
