A remarkable delegation comprising federal ministries of Agriculture and Finance, along with the esteemed World Bank, conducted an inspection tour to evaluate the newly constructed multi-million Naira agricultural produce processing plants scattered across various locations in Enugu State.
These significant projects, visited on Saturday, was valued at N350 million. They are part of the Agro-Processing, Productivity Enhancement and Livelihoods Improvement Support (APPEALS) Projects, strategically positioned in 15 centers across the state’s three senatorial zones.
During the visit, the delegation explored the Poultry Processing Centre situated in Amechi Awkunanaw, Enugu South Local Government Area, as well as the Rice Processing Centre located in Nkanu East Local Government Area. The presence of Mr. Mohammed Jobdi, the National Project Coordinator of APPEALS Project, added to the significance of the inspection, as he aimed to assess the project’s implementation progress in Enugu State, as it nears completion in September.
Highlighting the achievements of the APPEALS project since its inception in 2017, Jobdi expressed his satisfaction with Enugu State’s remarkable progress in project implementation, ranking the state highly among other participating regions.
He emphasized that more than 55,000 individuals nationwide have benefited from the project, including farmers, producers, processors, marketers, youths, and women who have all received valuable support and empowerment through various capacity-building initiatives.
“We have personally visited the Amechi and Nara centers, and the progress we witnessed was truly encouraging. The dedicated teams have assured us that the required machinery will be installed within two weeks,” Jobdi remarked.
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He further explained that Enugu State was allocated 15 aggregation and Cottage Centers, each equipped with the necessary facilities proposed for the project. In terms of women and youth empowerment, he proudly shared that approximately 1,700 individuals in each participating state, including five percent of physically challenged individuals, have received training, emphasizing the project’s commitment to social inclusion.
Dr. Manieve Sene, the World Bank Task Team Leader, emphasized the purpose of their presence in Enugu State. Their primary goal was to gather success stories and challenges directly from the beneficiaries themselves, enabling them to devise effective strategies to address these issues.
Commending the World Bank and the Federal Government for extending the APPEALS project to Enugu State, Mrs. Ihuoma Eze, the Enugu State APPEALS project Coordinator, acknowledged the transformative impact the project has had on numerous lives within the state. The positive effects have been particularly evident in areas such as Amechi Awkunanaw, Nara, 9th Mile, Udi, Orba, Ezeagu, Adani, Eha Amufu, and other locations where the aggregation centers are situated.
Expressing gratitude towards the World Bank and the Federal Government, beneficiaries of the project vowed to uphold and maintain the centers and machinery, recognizing their critical role in ensuring food security not only in Enugu State but across Nigeria as a whole.
Chinyere Iwundu, a member of the Divine Cooperative in Amechi Awkwunaw, highlighted the empowerment she and her fellow cooperative members have experienced through the project. The provided facilities have equipped them with the means to preserve their farm produce and sell them at opportune moments when prices are favorable, thereby adding significant value to their lives.
Through the APPEALS project, Enugu State has witnessed a remarkable transformation in the agricultural sector, empowering farmers, enhancing productivity, and contributing to the overall goal of achieving sustainable food security.
The collaboration between the federal ministries, the World Bank, and the beneficiaries themselves has laid a strong foundation for a prosperous and resilient agricultural future in Enugu State and Nigeria.
