MBAISE TECHNOCRATS, FARMERS, TAKES BOLD STEPS TOWARD TRANSFORMING COMMUNITY INTO A ROBUST AND SUSTAINABLE AGRO-BASED ECONOMY.
Mbaise, Imo State Nigeria, September 8, 2022: Following the Mbaise Policy Roundtable (MPR) 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) was inaugurated by the Chairman of MPR Professor Eddie Oparaoji on 26th March 2022, and the committee has since swung into action.
MAPIC, is a 16-man Professor Joe Ahaneku-led committee, 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 the inauguration, the Committee commenced work in earnest, proffered recommendations as well as actualize youth empowerment initiatives. Almost all the members are serious farmers who are engaged in farming themselves. The Chairman Professor Ahaneku advised all the members including those in diaspora to engage in one farming activity or the other so that the committee members 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 they are involved in and their capacity, their ability to train participants who are interested in their field and the cost of such training. All these information will enable the Committee to prepare and work out the distribution of any amenities that could come to the community, from within or outside. The Committee is involving all the churches Amalas and community gatherings, etc for effective dissemination of information of its activities.
Recently, the chairman of the Committee procured five slots for the training and empowerment of five participants by the School of Fisheries and Marine Technology. The five beneficiaries came back in high spirit and are hoping to explore and expand their horizon in fishery business.
Some key proposals proffered by MAPIC include.
1. Encourage and advocate farming by all means, whether animal production or crop cultivation to ensure that healthy food is produced and eaten in Mbaise and continues to such level that other parts of the state and the nation can head to Mbaise to purchase food.
2. Not owning land, should not deter any person who is interested to farm 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.
3. Palm to palm project 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.
4. Encourage 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 inexhaustible, all in the bid to put back Mbaise in an 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 us to this goal 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; Prince Victor Mbalewe; 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; Dr. Jude Iheoma (Director of Programs/Webinar Host).
The MPR 2022 Global Summit was sponsored by the following; 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, Ndukwu Chidi Henry, 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 & Akwaugo Obom, 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, Professor JUJ Onwumere.
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 