Prince Mendy Archibong, chairman, Prince Archibong Life Foundation, PALF, with the Chairperson of Obot Akara local government area, Lady Agnes Udoenwenwen, during a courtesy call.
By Abasifreke Effiong
Prince Archibong Life Foundation has agreed to partner Obot Akara local government council, in Akwa Ibom State, to give agric inputs and grants to rural farmers in Obot Akara local government area.
The foundation agreed on a collaboration with the council on Wednesday 10th February, during a courtesy call on the Chairperson of Obot Akara local government area, Lady Agnes Udoenwenwen.
The agric grant will target mostly women who cultivate food crops both at subsistent and commerical quantity.
Speaking to journalists at Nto Edino, after the courtesy call, Chairman of Prince Archibong Life Foundation, PALF, Prince Mendy Archibong said more than 100 farmers are targeted in the grant.
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“We came to discuss a partnership with the local government council aimed to empower women during this farming season. We have discovered that there is hunger in the land, so we decided to make this move.
We are looking at supporting water-leaf, cassava, okra, and tomatoes farmers. We have made arrangement for fertilizer and we will also give them grant. We are looking at supporting more than a hundred farmers.”
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Prince Archibong had earlier congratulated Lady Udoenwenwen own her election as Executive chairperson of Obot Akara local government area and expressed willingness of the Foundation to partner with the council on programmes that will lift the vulnerable especially women out of extreme poverty.
He lauded the Council’s Chairperson for initiating the farming season programme for the women, saying that the programme will have tremendous positive impacts on rural commerce during the first harvest season.
Prince Archibong explained that when more farmers have access to inputs and funds to expand their farms, there would be improved yield, hence more farm produce to process and sell.
Prince Archibong Life Foundation is a non-governmental organisation in Akwa Ibom State working with communities and individuals on intermediate programmes aimed at reducing poverty and promoting healthy living.
Executive of Prince Archibong Life Foundation presenting a souvenir to the Chairperson of Obot Akara local government council, Lady Agnes Udoenwenwen.
The foundation has been at the vanguard of community sensitization on COVID-19 and improving access to water, health, sanitation and hygiene as well as widows and youth empowerment.
Earlier in her remarks, the Chairperson of Obot Akara local government area, Lady Agnes Udoenwenwen thanked Prince Archibong Life Foundation for reaching out to over 400 widows last December, saying that the community intervention’s carried out by PALF are laudable and unprecedented.
“Thank you for going out of your way to reach out to widows during last yuletide. I was amazed by the number of wrappers and bags of rice the foundation gave to widows. It rare for people in the private sector to undertake such outreach.”
Lady Udoenwenwen said she and the local government council will partner Prince Archibong Life Foundation to reach out to indigent women and the people of Obot Akara.
“I am ready to partner with you. With you I know I will never be disappointed.”
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The council chairperson said she is making a personal contribution towards organising the agric programme to support farmers in the local government area with the hope that it will aid increase in food production, reduce hunger and lift the rural women out of poverty.
Lady Udoenwenwen said her administration is committed to leave legacies in women empowerment, rural commerce through investment in agriculture.
The courtesy visit had the Vice Chairman of the Obot Akara local government area, Mr Uduak Effiong, in attendance.
Highpoint of the visit was the presentation of a souvenir to Lady Agnes Udoenwenwen by Prince Archibong Life Foundation.
