The member representing Idah federal constituency Hon. David Idris Zacharias on Wednesday flagged off the first phase of his constituency empowerment and training programme for his constituents.
The programme which kick started with a strategic training and empowerment of youths and women in the agricultural sector focused on fish farming, yam production and processing with over fifty participants drawn from Idah, Ibaji, Ofu and Igalamela/Odolu local governments.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the training, which held on Wednesday in Community Secondary School, Ejule, Zacharias called on the participants to give total concentration to the training adding that it will be beneficial to them if they effectively put the techniques into practice.
Represented by his Senior Legislative Aide, SLA, Mr. Momoh Rilwan, Zacharias said the agricultural advantage of the constituency has to be put to use through the training with assurance that start-up packs will be given to them to enable them put into practice what they have learnt.
According to the lawmaker, he has put up request before relevant government agencies to bring succour to victims of flooding in ravaged communities in Ibaji local government, a development he said has affected food supply from the agrarian community.
“I am aware that this year flooding has affected several farmlands. Request have been made and in no distant time, we shall render assistance to those affected no matter how small it is.
“I want you all to see this training as my modest interest in contributing to agriculture which is one of the strengths we have as a people in the constituency,” he added.
The training which was made possible by the intervention of the Nigeria Stored Products Research Institute in conjunction with Hayes Multi-System Investment Limited, Index Global Resources Limited and E-concepts Technologies Limited.
The training team had seasoned agricultural and food-processing experts among whom are Dr. Atibioke Adesanya, Prof. Olalenye Oladimeji, Mr. Awosubi Eson and Miss Abel Grace.
Prof. Olalenye Oladimeji commended the vision of the lawmaker for enlisting his constituents for the programme and enumerated the value chain of the business and the commercial value they stand the chance of getting if they take serious with a view to doing the business.
Earlier, Mr. Rilwan who represented Zacharias at the training said the empowerment packs for the beneficiaries would be distributed at a later date when the honourable member will be present in a colourful even to be announced in due course.
Some of the participants appreciated the lawmaker for his gestures while they expressed confidence in his leadership and promised to judiciously use the items that will be given to them at the end of the training.
