Obasanjo to Ebonyi: Introduce annual national yam exhibition

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has advised the Ebonyi State Government to introduce annual national yam exhibition as means of encouraging farmers to put in more effort in agriculture.

Obasanjo,who noted that Ebonyi was one of the four pilot states selected for the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal number two, an international zero hunger project, suggested that the best yam farmer should be given accolades as means of motivating others.

He spoke during a one-day South-East Economic and Security Summit in Enugu where Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State advocated the resolution of boundary disputes to foster peace and development in the zone.

Obasanjo, in a statement on Sunday by Umahi’s Chief Press Secretary,Emma Anya, said, “Last year leaders met in New York, United States at the end of millennium development goal. They came with sustainable development goal and had 17 goals. Item No.2 is zero hunger by the year 2030.

“So they approached me and said yes, zero hunger but we want you to lead the zero hunger review in Nigeria We took four states and said we will focus on the four states as pilot states.

“ I want to take Ebonyi which is one of the four pilot states in the federation. Why can’t Ebonyi as a yam producing state have an annual yam exhibition. An annual yam exhibition where you will have judges that will determine who is the best yam farmer of the year. Not in Ebonyi State but in Nigeria but Ebonyi State will be the state hosting annual yam exhibition.

That way you bring new interest to yam production. You start glamorizing farmers and farming.”.
At the event which was hosted by Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and attended by Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, Anambra State Deputy Nkem Okeke, and retired army chiefs, Umahi said that an end to boundary disputes in the South-East was needed for peace and development to take place in the zone.