Ebonyi Governor Francis Nwifuru on Friday received the second batch of graduates of the N3 million agriculture value chains empowerment program at Abakaliki, the state capital.
The 100 beneficiaries of the program were trained in different departments of modern agricultural practices by Master Card Skills at Agbani Farm in Enugu State for two months under the sponsorship of Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru Empowerment Programme, FONEP.
Addressing the beneficiaries on behalf of the governor, the State Commissioner for Human Capital Development and Monitoring, Mrs Ann Aligwe expressed the state government’s readiness to build Ebonyi people, making their lives better.
Nwifuru recalled that his administration has disbursed over N300,000,000 to the first batch beneficiaries of the same program, and they have started their own farming business in their various locations in the state.
He commended the second batch graduates for having actively participated in the training program and assured them that each of them would receive 3 million Naira soon.
“You are the second batch beneficiaries of the FONEP agriculture empowerment program. The first batch of beneficiaries of the FONEP graduated recently, and each of them was given 3 million Naira to start his or her farm business.
“Now you are the second batch beneficiaries, you graduated yesterday and came back today. We know that very soon you will receive your alert of the N3 million Naira each.
“But the most important thing is that there was no ugly story because all of you went for the training alive and you came back alive and healthy too.”
The governor used the opportunity to restate his pledge of a N150,000 Christmas bonus to the Ebonyi workforce, assuring that the agriculture chain empowerment program would continue while in office.
Mr. Patrick Aligwe, who is the leader of the Second Batch beneficiaries of FONEP, and Lovelyn Ali commended the governor for his kind gesture, noting that they were given stipends, and fed well with accommodations free of charge through their stay at the training center.
The beneficiaries also commended the state Commissioner for Human Capital Development and Monitoring alongside other executive council members for their contributions to the successes of their training and promised to make them proud as they put their knowledge into practice.
