Mbaise, Imo State Nigeria:
Following the Mbaise Policy Roundtable (MPR)’s 2022 Annual Global Summit with the theme Agriculture – A Pathway to Youth Empowerment and Mitigation of Insecurity in Rural Communities – A Case Study of the Mbaise Nation, the Mbaise Agriculture Projects Implementation Committee (MAPIC), inaugurated by the Chairman of MPR Professor Eddie Oparaoji on March 26, 2022, has swung into action.
MAPIC, a 16-man group led by Professor Joe Ahaneku, was put together to formulate and implement modalities for harnessing human, material and financial resources to rebuild Mbaise into a robust and sustainable agro based economy.
Immediately after inauguration, the Committee commenced work and proffered recommendations aimed at actualization of youth empowerment initiatives. Almost all the members of the committee are serious farmers. The Chairman, Professor Ahaneku advised all the members, including those in diaspora, to engage in one farming activity or the other so that they all would be seen to be practicing what they are preaching.
The Committee has embarked on a mapping of the agricultural establishments in Mbaise to know the type of farming each is involved in and their capacity and ability to train participants who are interested in their fields and the cost of such trainings. All of which will enable the Committee to also work out the modalities for distribution of any amenities that could come to the community, from within or outside the country. The Committee is involving all the churches, community leaderships (Amalas) etc for effective dissemination of information concerning its activities.
Recently, the chairman of the Committee secured five slots for the training and empowerment of five participants by the Nigerian School of Fisheries and Marine Technology. The five beneficiaries came back in high spirits and are hoping to expand their horizon in the fishery business.
Some key proposals put forward by MAPIC include the encouragement of farming activities, whether animal production or crop cultivation, to ensure that healthy food is produced and eaten in Mbaise and to ensure that this spills over to other parts of the state and the nation with Mbaise as net beneficiary as producers of wholesome foods.
The committee is also pushing that not owning land, should not deter any person who is interested in farming as those who have parcels of land lying fallow can be approached by those who are ready to farm, to allow them to cultivate their lands.
They are equally recommending palm to palm projects whereby high yielding palm seedlings are to be planted near overgrown palm trees so that the old ones will be cut down when the new ones start yielding. This, again, does not require a person to own land, because you can enter into an agreement with the owners of the lands littered with overgrown palm trees that the palm harvesters can no longer climb.
The Committee is also encouraging capable hands to establish factories to process farm produce, off taking/selling farm produce as a form of business that one can delve into without being a farmer.
The work of MAPIC is ongoing and is gathering momentum, a statement from MPR said, stressing that “it is all in a bid to put back Mbaise in the enviable position of becoming the food basket of Imo State and beyond. All hands should be on deck and we will get there sooner than later.”
The Committee members charged with leading the process are: Professor J. E. Ahaneku (Chairman); Ishi Nze Barr Placid Dioka (Deputy Chairman); Ret. Chief Magistrate His Worship Rose O. C. Nworka (Secretary); Chief Austin Onwubiko (Treasurer); Chief Joachim Nwogu (PRO/Webinar Co-Host); Professor Viola Onwuliri and Prince Victor Mbalewe.
Others are Rev. Father Pius Anyanwu; Mr. Patrick Iroh; HRH Ugoeze Chigbo Nwamara; Sir Stanley Amuchie; Professor Josaphat U. J. Onwumere; Sir Sebastian Ekeanyanwu; Ezeji Dr Kachi Nwoga; Mr. Solomon Abiakalam; Mrs. Ngozi Chile–Oparaocha and Dr. Jude Iheoma (Director of Programs/Webinar Host).
The MPR 2022 Global Summit was sponsored by Dr Maurice Ugwuibe, Sir Stanley Amuchie, Professor John Kennedy Opara, Professor Eddie Oparaoji, Rev. Fr. Uchenna Charles Ofomadu, Mr. Tony Asoluka Emeribe, Dim Obasianahuanya, Senior Apostle Francis Ajeroh Mbaise, Sir Sebastian Ekeanyanwu, AIG Dr Charles Ugomuoh ret., Dr. Ken Akwuole, Dr. Kachi Nwoga, Law Anyanwu (COL) ret., Dr. Law Osondu, Dr Jude Iheoma, Mr. Solomon Abiakalam, Chief Ejike Enwereuzor, Dim Chijike Ndukwu, Sir Dom Nzeji, Mr Casca Ohanele, Mr. & Mrs. Dozie Onwuliri, Rev Fr Charles Ufomadu, Engr George& Dr Mrs. Geneveive Nwigwe, Chief Collins Olorondu, Chief Chuks Chilaka, Mr. Peter Ihionu and Ndukwu Chidi Henry.
Others are the Obanis, Prince Ndy & Dr Mrs. Nwamaka Oparaoji, Dr Emma Maduakor, Chief Festus Anaele, Prof. Callistus Ibe, Dim Obasianahuanya, Ikukundu Iyke Anyanwu, Chief Remy & Atty Aky Onuoha, Prince Stanley Uduhirinwa, Chief Joachim Nwogu, Barr Chidi Onwuekweikpe, Sr. Apostle Frank Ajaero Mbaise, Chief Longinus Nnodim, Sir Nick & Lady Doris Nwuda, Dr Mrs. Vivian Timothy, Engr Peter Clever Nwaiwu, Obinna Onwunali, Prof. Jeff Ohanaja, Dr Uzoma Ugoagwu, Mr. Rowland and Akwaugo Obom.
Also among the sponsors of the Summit are Patrick Keke, Mr. BK Nworgu, Theo Okonkwo, Chinedu Iwuji, Dr Mrs. Ezinne Nwamara, Dr Goddy Nzeh, Arc. Cornelius Oguguo, Dr Chika Okoro, Ishi Nze Placidus Dioka, Mr. Remy Nwachukwu, Dr. Law Opara, Simon Peter Opara, Prince Victor Mbalewe, Dr Keyna Osondu-Omenukor, Hon. John Nwokoroku, Dr Ferdinand Odoemenem, Dr Vitalis Ojiegbe, Hon. Eric Amaechi, Barr Oby Onyeulor, Pharm Ogbuja Anthony, HRH Ugoeze Chigbo Nwamara, Chief Mike & Dr Mrs. Nomso Opara, Mr. Andy Eke and Professor JUJ Onwumere,
MPR, the statement concluded, “is the premier pre-eminent Mbaise Public Policy and Business Advisory Council in the World, focused entirely on the development of Mbaise and Imo State, through the facilitation of financial and in-kind resources, private investments and private public partnerships.”
