Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, has emphasized that efficient and sustainable agricultural production is essential to achieving food security and driving the industrialization of any country.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo made this statement on Tuesday when the state chapter of the Nigerian Women in Agricultural Business (NIWAB) paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House in Yenagoa.
The deputy governor underscored that agriculture plays a pivotal role in the “ASSURED Prosperity Agenda” of the Governor Douye Diri-led administration, which seeks to unlock the state’s vast potential.
He reiterated that the key to Bayelsa’s industrialization lies in harnessing agriculture’s full potential, stressing the importance of stakeholders, including NIWAB, to explore areas where they have a comparative advantage to ensure food security.
In his remarks, Senator Ewhrudjakpo also emphasized that the state government would now only partner with serious and committed agricultural cooperatives to drive the agricultural transformation agenda.
He commended NIWAB for their initiative and expressed confidence that the group’s involvement would help realize the goal of an agricultural revolution in the state.
The President of NIWAB, Mrs. Ebimotimi Leghemo, expressed the organization’s readiness to contribute significantly to the state’s agricultural development.
She revealed that more than 15,000 women from Bayelsa had already registered with the cooperative and assured the deputy governor that Bayelsan women farmers were prepared to leverage the state’s fertile soil to produce enough food to meet the needs of Bayelsa and neighboring states.
She also appealed to the government for further support in achieving the agricultural goals outlined in the state’s Prosperity Administration.
In a separate engagement, Senator Ewhrudjakpo also addressed the chairmen and executive secretaries of the various Local Government Healthcare Authorities (LGHAs) in the state. He urged them to ensure discipline and accountability in the management of primary healthcare services.
The deputy governor criticized the trend of prioritizing healthcare infrastructure over the necessary human resources, pointing out that a well-equipped primary healthcare system cannot function effectively without adequately trained personnel.
Dr. Robert Director, speaking on behalf of the LGHA leaders, highlighted the numerous operational challenges they face, including insufficient office accommodation, lack of official vehicles, and inadequate funding to carry out essential duties, such as executing emergency health interventions.
In response, Senator Ewhrudjakpo assured the LGHA leaders that their concerns would be carefully considered, and necessary steps would be taken to address the issues, ensuring that the primary healthcare sector in Bayelsa meets the needs of its citizens effectively.