AS AMNESTY OFFICE ESTABLISHES 40 POULTRY FARMS FOR DELEGATES IN DELTA STATE …GEN. BOROH EMPHASIZES ON REWRITING THE NEGATIVE NARRATIVE ABOUT THE PROGRAMME

Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta/Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Brigadier General Paul Boroh (Rtd) says the ongoing empowerment initiatives across the Niger Delta region, were intended to give sustainable source of livelihood to beneficiaries of the programme, with a view to changing the earlier negative narrative about activities of the Presidential Amnesty Programme.

 

Brigadier General Boroh, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Colonel Adis Abel (Rtd), during the presentation of starter packs to 40 trained delegates in poultry farming in Warri, Delta State on Friday, said President Muhammandu Buhari’s vision for the Niger Delta region is to ensure that the youths in the area are meaningfully engaged, adding that agriculture has the capacity to boost micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in increasing revenue and profitability for small farmers to diversify from low-value products to high-value specialty products and services.

According to the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, the Amnesty office keyed into the federal government’s agricultural agenda because of its potentials of engaging several youths in the region, assuring that the Amnesty office will continue to train and empower beneficiaries as part of the ongoing reintegration process of the 30,000 ex-agitators back to their communities with sustainable source of livelihood after exiting the programme in due course.

He maintained that President Buhari’s sincere commitment to the Ogoni Clean Up exercise was a clear testimony of the present administration’s interest towards the development of the Niger Delta region, just as he urged the youths to be creative and take advantage of the several youth development initiatives of the federal government.

 

Also speaking, chairman of Gbaramatu Development Foundation, Hon Jude Ukori that the Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme for his visionary leadership qualities, adding that his council would be willing to collaborate with the Amnesty in the area of peace building in the Niger Delta.

Earlier, Vendor and Managing Director of Glassfa Continental Limited, Evang.  Samson Fetimi who said his company has been involved in training Amnesty delegates in welding, fabrication, crane operations, poultry and fishery, among others, in collaboration with the Amnesty office has provided starter packs for 40 delegates in poultry farming, comprising 100 birds, generating sets, wheelbarrows, shovels, head pans, in addition sinking boreholes in their personal farms to prepare them to take up entrepreneurship responsibilities in poultry farming, while assuring them of technical support in course of the businesses as agricultural entrepreneurs.

 

Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, Mr. Stephen Forcados, thanked the federal government for giving them the opportunity to become reliant through the Presidential Amnesty Programme under Gen. Boroh, saying that they would do their best to ensure their poultry farms grow to become large businesses.

Highpoint of the event was the presentation of starter packs to the 40 delegates by the Chief of Staff, Col. Adis Abel (Rtd).

Senior reintegration officer, Mr. Jude Gbaboyor and the Liaison officer, Mr. Piriye Kiyaramo, from the Amnesty Office, were also at the event.

Facts Compile/Written By Gbaboyor Jude & Piriye Kiyaramo

For Head, Media and Communication Department

August 8, 2017