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| Chief Audu Ogbeh Awarded |
The Hon Minister of Agriculture & Rural Development
Chief Audu Ogbeh CFR was on Sunday honored with the Public Service Outstanding
Award along with 9 other notable Nigerians by the Public Research and Analysis
Center - the body that institutionalized the Zik Leadership Award to recognize,
appreciate and encourage distinguished Nigerians who have made significant
contributions to the development of the nation.
The momentous event which is part of the Zik Prize in
Leadership, took place at the Civic Centre, Uzoh Mbadiwe street, Victoria Island
.
In the citation read at a colourful event attended by a la cream of Nigeria's VIP's from different
works of life, Chief Ogbeh was described
as the farmers' farmer noted for his unimpeachable integrity, whose appointment
was largely hailed as representing the most square- pegged appointment in
recent times.
The Minister was also credited with the feat of upturning
the country's craze for rice importation, stimulates unprecedented Nigeria's
local rice revolution; thus making the country the largest producer of rice in
West Africa. He also got commendation for ensuring availability and
accessibility of agro-inputs like seeds, fertilizers and agrochemicals to
farmers at the right time and reasonable cost.
Other forward looking policies of the Minister that have not
escaped the attention of the organizers include the Livelihood Improvement
Family Enterprises Programme (LIFE) and the procurement and distribution of
agricultural processing equipment to rural households, farmers, processors and
cooperative societies across the country as well as the introduction of
Agro-Rangers security guards to protect large scale farmers and ward off
criminals attacking farmers.
Chief Ogbeh also received kudos for being the brain behind
the Presidential Fertilizer Initiative which saw Nigeria's partnership with the
Government of Morocco for the supply of phosphates - a development that has
resulted in the revitalization of eleven fertilizer blending plants and
introduction of a robust quality seeds assurance scheme.
The Award Plaque to the Minister was jointly presented
by Chairman of the All Progressive Congress APC - Chief John
Oyegun and Nigeria's former Senate President Senator Ken Nnamani.
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike and his Katsina State
counterpart also bagged the Good Governance Award while an APC chieftain and
former Governor of Osun State - Chief Adebisi Akande was honoured with
Political Leadership Award.
Others that were honoured include Mr Ernest Ebi - Chairman
Fidelity Bank and Dr Makanti Kacalla Baru, Group Managing Director NNPC,
honoured with (Professional Leadership) and Dr Adedeji Adeleke (Business
Leadership).
Two wives of State Governors - Chief Mrs Ebelechukwu Obiano
and Hajia Hadiza Abubakar also got Awards for Humanitarian Services for their
poverty alleviation initiatives through the Caring Family Enhancement
Initiative CAFE and Bauchi Sustainable Women Economic Empowerment & Peace
Initiative (B-SWEEP) respectively.
Tolu Makinde
Director of Information
16-04-2018
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