REPORT BY GORDI UDEAJAH
Abia State Governor’s wife, Priscilla Otti, has underscored the need for households to adopt climate-smart agricultural practices, urging women to utilize organic waste for composting, conserve water through efficient irrigation methods, and plant high-yield, pest-resistant crops suitable for home gardens.
Mrs. Otti spoke at the Banquet Hall of Government House, Umuahia, during the Prize Giving Day Ceremony, of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) of the Wife of the President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, held in collaboration with Mrs Otti’s ) office. The theme of the event, was , “Every Home a Garden”.
The initiative was designed to empower families to take ownership of their food security by cultivating gardens within their homes, thereby encouraging wholesome eating and self-sufficiency.
Represented by the state Deputy Governor’s wife , Adaeze Emetu, Mrs Otti opined that with proper management, small-scale gardens can supply fresh produce to local markets, reduce household expenses, and enhance food availability within communities.
During the event, winner-participants ini the “Every Home A Garden’ competition were empowered with over N6.5 million naira prizes and cash awards.
While the first -place winner received N5 million, and second was rewarded with N1 million, the third took home the sum of N500,000.00.
” Let me therefore encourage women to continue prioritizing agricultural endeavours, drive innovations, and promote sustainable practices, as a means to combat food insecurity and improve family nutrition”, she urged
Lauding her husband , governor Alex Otti, for his transformative investments in rural infrastructure, Mrs Otti similarly hailed the President’s wife , for empowering Abia women through agricultural support and initiatives.
The state Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Cliff Agbaeze, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr Mrs. Ijeoma Aguwa,
counseled participants to see home gardening not as a mere as subsistence activity but a potential rewarding income-generating venture.
He said ” with proper management, small-scale gardens can supply fresh produce to local markets, reduce household expenses, and enhance food availability within communities”.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr. Maureen Aghukwa, who described “Every Home a Garden” Initiative, as a turning point for women in Abia State, posited that by embracing home gardening, women would not only contribute to family nutrition, but also reduce dependence on external food sources, well as enhance their economic independence.
The State Renewed Hope Initiative Desk Officer, Mrs. Amarachi Anyim, had earlier commended Senator Oluremi Tinubu’s vision of transforming families through empowerment programmes, thanking Mrs. Otti for extending the benefits of the initiative across Abia state.
