Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, has renamed Avutu Poultry Farm Ltd., Sam Mbakwe Poultry Farm. He announced this yesterday, assuring that the late Chief Sam Mbakwe, the first civilian governor of the state, would continue to be honoured as long as the state would continue to appreciate his footprints.

Okorocha spoke when he paid a courtesy call on Mbakwe’s widow, Mrs. Ahuikpeghe Mbakwe, while leading a team of South African agricultural investors to Avutu Poultry Farm in Obowo LGA. The team had gone to inspect the venture with a view of the investors collaborating with the state government to bring the poultry fully back to life and to the standard the state government has envisaged.

Okorocha, who was received at the country home of the late former governor by Ahuikpeghe and son, Chief Alex Mbakwe, told his audience that Mbakwe had achieved much for the state that his administration has remained a reference government in the state and beyond.

Welcoming the governor, Alex, first son of the late Mbakwe, commended Okorocha for being the first governor after the late father to have shown enormous interest in both the family and the Avutu Poultry Farm. He prayed that God would continue to encourage him. He appealed to the governor to rehabilitate the road leading to the poultry since those going to the poultry would need good road to get there.

At the poultry, Okorocha regretted its long neglect, saying that his administration would stop at nothing to achieve the goal behind the establishment of the poultry. He reiterated that the poultry, when fully revived, would provide job opportunities for thousands of Imo sons and daughters.

The governor assured to overhaul the farm and also rehabilitate the state-owned paint industry located at Mbaise.

The leader of the South African investors, Mr. Dirk Hanekom, had told the governor that they had come to partner the state government in agriculture, which he said remains a tool to unite African nations. He praised Okorocha for keeping the doors of his administration open for investors.

Speaking at a mini reception organised by the people of the area, a community leader, Chief Abraham Alesiro, said that since 1983 nobody has done for Avutu Obowo people what Rochas has done for them. He advised the governor to forfeit his presidential ambition and seek re-election as the governor of the state.

•Photo the late Chief Sam Mbakwe.

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