AHANEKU ADVOCATES PAN MBAISE (ISM), AT INAUGURATION WITH ONWULIRI, MBALEWE, OTHERS AS MEMBERS MBAISE AGRICULTURE PROJECTS IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEE.
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Mbaise Imo State, Nigeria, March 29, 2022: The Mbaise Policy Roundtable (MPR), a non-governmental organization with offices in Owerri Imo State, Nigeria and New York USA has inaugurated members of her “Mbaise Agriculture Projects Implementation Committee (MAPIC)”, as mandated by the resolution of their recently concluded 2022 Annual Global Summit, themed, “Agriculture- A Strategic Pathways to Youth Empowerment and Mitigation of Insecurity in Rural Communities- A Case Study of the Mbaise Nation.”. The inauguration was officiated by MPR Chairman Professor Eddie Oparaoji and coordinated by their Chief Program Director Dr Jude Iheoma.
The purpose of MAPIC is to formulate and implement modalities for harnessing human, material and financial resources to rebuild Mbaise into a robust and sustainable Agro-based economy. It will also explore enhancing business partnership with the Professor John Kennedy led, CSS group of companies, a Nigerian-based international Agro-conglomerate and one of the largest mechanized Agribusiness in Africa.
According to a statement signed by the MPR Executive Secretary and Legal Adviser Atty Paschal Ukpabi, Chief Program Director Dr Jude Iheoma, and Chairman Professor Eddie Oparaoji, “After due deliberations and consultations, the Board of Directors selected a team with diverse relevant background and competencies comprising top Agriculture experts and administrators, practicing farmers, funding, financial, ICT experts, local and international influencers, legal minds, and scientists among other criteria.”
Those inaugurated include.
1. Professor Joe Ahaneku -former Vice Chancellor, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Administrator per excellence, practical expert in entrepreneurship and Practicing farmer (Chairman)
2. Ishi Nze Barr Placid Dioka – former Registrar University of Nigeria Nsukka (Deputy Chairman)
3. Ret. Chief Magistrate, Her Lordship Barr Rose O.C. Nworka – Practicing Farmer (Secretary)
4. Chief Austin Onwubiko – Managing Director at Africana First Publishers (Treasurer)
5. Chief Joachim Nwogu – President/CEO 3N Solutions Network (PRO/Webinar Host)
6. Professor Viola Onwuliri – former Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister of State for Education
7. Prince Victor Mbalewe – Former Senior Special Adviser to Imo State Governor on Commercial Agriculture, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer at Biowish Africa West Limited and Practicing Farmer
8. Rev Fr. Pius Anyanwu – Director Mater Farm Catholic Diocese of Ahiara, Mbaise
9. Mr Patrick Iroh – Head of Department of Agriculture, Ahiazu-Mbaise LGA
10. HRH Ugoeze Chigbo Nwamara – Practicing Farmer, Founder Offthehook Foundation and Manager Meknubs Nig Ltd, an Agro Allied Company
11. Sir Stanley Amuchie – Bank Executive Director, Chief Operations and Information Officer, Founder Goodlight Foundation
12. Professor Josaphat U.J. Onwumere – Professor of Banking/Finance and Economic Development, Dean, Faculty of Business Administration, University of Nigeria, Nsukka
13. Sir Sebastian Ekeanyanwu – CEO Chris VI Hotel Ahiara-Mbaise, former Executive Director Finance and Accounts, NNPC
14. Ezeji, Dr. Kachi Nwoga – a Medical Doctor, ICT consultant and Practicing Farmer
15. Mr Solomon Abiakalam – Group Chief Compliance Officer at Cellulant-Compliance and Risk Executive
16. Mrs Ngozi Chile Oparaocha – Bank Manager
During the inauguration, all the members affirmed their commitment to serve, to ensure the success of the enterprise. In his acceptance remarks, the MAPIC Chairman, Professor Ahaneku, enthusiastically commended all committee members for their commitment to join hands in developing Mbaise through MAPIC. He described the initiative as long overdue, and an opportunity for the present Mbaise generation to make their mark in the sands of history, like their forebears. He observed that unlike their forebears who established most of the existing enduring but decaying institutions that made the current generation, this generation may be running out of time to build a legacy to be proud of.
He opined that as some embrace, Pan-Africanism, Pan-Nigerianism, Pan-Igbo, that they too should embrace “Pan Mbaise” vision- an overarching mindset to spur volunteerism, sacrifices, philanthropism, taking control of ones destiny, which would consequently fuel fierce and sustained Mbaise development. Prof Ahaneku, a former University Vice Chancellor, and fellow of the highly respected Nigerian Academy of the Sciences further outlined some of the benefits of developing agriculture as the bedrock of Mbaise economy, which includes accessible affordable healthier food, reduction in illnesses of unknown origin, mitigation of youth unemployment, joblessness, crimes and insecurity overall. The committee were thereafter prayed for and blessed by Rev Fr Pius Anyanwu, Director of Mater Farm at Ahiara Catholic Diocese, Mbaise, in Imo State.
Other key stakeholders who witnessed the epoch event, were the Councilor representing Amuzi/Ihenweorie ward at the Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Council Hon Chris Uche Agomuo, MPR Assist Secretary – Mr. Rowland Obom, Chief Mrs Susan Adaure Dioka, Chief BC Nwachukwu, Mr Kelechi Adjaero, Mr Paschal Adjaero, Hon Uwandu Olelewe SA to the member representing Ahiazu at the Imo State House of Assembly Hon Sam Nkem Otuibe, Hon Vitta Nwaodu, Hon U N Agomuo, Autonomous Communities Presidents General for Ogbe, Akpodim and Enyiogugu, namely Hon Innocent Nwaoha, Mr Kingsley Uzoukwu and Mr M.I.U Ekwueme respectively.
MPR 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.
MPR 