The Cross River State Governor Bassey Edet Otu has charged Members of the Microfinance and Enterprise Development Agency (MEDA) to strives to expand commercial agro-based productivity, thereby making agriculture the fulcrum of the state’s economy.
He recently gave the charge, when he inaugurated the chairman and members Microfinance and Enterprises Development Agency (MEDA)in Calabar.
Moreover, he called on them to contribute their quota to the present administration’s prosperity programme.
This, they will be doing by innovatively driving Cross River atop enterprise development radar among the comity of Nigerian states.
He said: “If you look at all Federal Government’s platforms, Cross River have crept from wherever they left us.”
Otu expressed confident that in about a year’s time or more, they would see Cross River atop almost all fields.
“That is where we intend to be,” he assured.
Furthermore, he stated that he wants that spirit rekindled once more and make sure, they do their best for people
Also, he tasked MEDA to do its very best to ensure impact of the agency is felt by the people.
After he announced moves into total mechanization in agriculture, he said they want to do all the hard work, where it is most difficult.
For instance, he observed that small holder farmers sustained them through the period they could not mass produce.
“Because whether you like it or not, and going forward, we must not leave them out,” said Otu.
“We are very intentional because of what is going on at the national platform,” Governor Otu said.
He said they just need a little bit of tinkering for it to fit with their system of the ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda very well.
He said his administration focuses on the ‘People First’ mandate, adding that they are going inject as many people as possible into the structures.
Accordingly, “This particular activity needs proper synergy to know what is going on in agriculture.”
Therefore, “With this team, I know that we are ready. I want us to put as much energy as possible.”
“I appreciate the work that is going on already.”
“Co-opt as many people as possible to make sure that it is quite robust,” he concluded.
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor Comrade Nsa Gill, reported that the committee is headed by Governor Otu as Chairman.
While the Commissioner for Wealth Creation, Mr Kingsley Egumi and Director General, Medium Enterprises Development, Mr Great Ogban, are Vice Chairman and Secretary respectively.
- Members include, elder statesman, Ntufam Fidelis Ugbo, Mr James Anicha, Commissioner for Commerce, and Mrs Abigail Duke, among others.