A sociocultural group in Edo State, Afemai Development Forum (ADF), has declared its support for the fight against the pervading challenge of hunger in the nation.
‘ADF’ would be doing all that is humanly possible – collaborating with all stakeholders to make the northern part of Edo a financial hub of the state, and eradicate poverty in the area, the Group asserts.
Towards making this set goal a reality, the Group declares that it is focusing on investing in large-scale agriculture, a sector in which Edo north has a comparative advantage.
The Afemai Development Forum made the disclosure during a media briefing in Benin City, recently
Speaking through its chairman, Comrade John Aidenomo Idogho, the Group said it was leveraging on equity contribution, as about a 100 hectares of land donated by one of the communities has been secured already for the proposed venture.
He disclosed that to begin, coconut plantation is one of the many farm investments the Group has identified as a money spinner, and could create the much desired jobs for the Afemai people via exploring its long chain.
In the words of the secretary general of the Group, Asekokhai Lucky, “In all, we need development, how do we create jobs, how do we bring people together, how do we eradicate the word – poverty, and how do we provide food for our people?”
Hence, the ADF has taken it upon itself to lead the way to going back to the land, he said.
According to Lucky, the Afemai people have comparative advantage in the farm lands, a natural resource the ADF is galvanizing efforts and support to reinventing to make food available, and create jobs for the people so that they can make money at home instead of seeking greener pastures abroad.
In the same vein, the Vice Chairman of the Group, Stephen Imoukhuede Osagie Ohimai, noted that it was time for the people of the zone to return home and explore the many resources that abound in the land.
Farming is the only way out of the food crisis in the land and to the farm, the God given resource of the Afemai people, we must return, he said.
Responding to a question from journalists on insecurity as a pervading threat to farming in Edo north particularly, the Group said it intends to reinvent cluster farming in collaboration with government and stakeholders as a way out.
“We will be engaging the government at both State and Local Government Council level, and the traditional rulers as critical stakeholders to finding lasting solutions to the challenge of insecurity as a threat to farming in the Edo north zone,” he said.
The Group called for the support of the government, Afemai natives worldwide and all stakeholders to succeed at the venture it said is for the benefit of everyone, particularly the people of Edo north zone.
Though ADF is an apolitical body for the overall good of the Afemai people, it has interest in good governance, exemplary and quality leadership that would ensure the growth and development of the area, it said.
Hence, it called on all politicians to upscale their performance and representation in the building of a state; wherein the dividends of democracy will outlive them.
Saying it is very much interested in who becomes the next Governor of Edo State after Godwin Obaseki, the Group tasked all the governorship candidates in the September election, to make public their manifesto for proper scrutiny.
“These will shape our belief and support for parties and their candidates!
“Afemai Descendants Forum is a social cultural organisation from the Edo North extraction of Edo State, only poised for the unity, growth and development of Afemai, even as the name implies, a non-political movement but with full interest in good governance, quality and exemplary leadership of the state, towards building an egalitarian Edo, and by extension, Afemai region-Edo North.”
ADF says its objectives are to unify the Afemai people, attract government presence, invest in Edo land and ensure poverty is eradicated from the Afemai region.
