To boost food production in the country, Delta State Governor, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, has advocated increase in the activities of agricultural extension service officers to farmers.

The Governor made the call on Thursday at a one-day interactive session with 2015/2017 beneficiaries of Skills Training and Entrepreneurship Programme (STEP) and Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurs Programme (YAGEP) in Asaba.

According to Governor Okowa, “Agriculture remains the greatest employer of labour, it is encouraging that most of our youths that we have empowered to operate in that sector are doing well, but, we must have enough people in the extension service to encourage farmers.”

“I am glad that our youths have embraced agriculture, it will lead to food sufficiency and boost our drive in creating entrepreneurs; we are going to strengthen the mentoring and monitoring unit to ensure that beneficiaries of our empowerment programmes are encouraged to do well,” he said.

Okowa observed that those who have succeeded in their businesses were determined to succeed. “If you stay resolute, success story will surely come; challenges will surely come but, you need to be resilient to do it right,” he said. “I am glad that a lot of you are doing well, people in government should be able to patronise you, I am very impressed with the success stories I have heard today.”

Beneficiaries of the empowerment programmes gave different stories about their challenges, their successes and their prospects and gave commendation to Governor Okowa’s administration for giving them the opportunity to be employers of labour.

Mr Itdjere Ericson, Mrs Linda Nnabundo, among others, suggested that with the level they have grown within two years of establishing their businesses, they were capable of training beneficiaries of the skill acquisition programmes and called for patronage from the state government.

•Photo shows Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa (right); Delta State Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development, Agency, Mrs. Shemite Bello (left) and Executive Assistant to the Governor, Monitoring and Mentoring, Mr. Edward Mekwunye, at a One-Day Interactive Session with 2015/16 Step and YAGEP Beneficiaries, in Asaba.