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Ogbeh tasks NIPR on marketing agro-based information

By Bertram Nwannekanma
08 May 2016   |   2:58 am
The Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh (OFR) has urged the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) to use the power of communication as an  essential tool ...
Audu Ogbeh, Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development

Audu Ogbeh, Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development

The Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh (OFR) has urged the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) to use the power of communication as an  essential tool for feedback mechanism to market  good agricultural initiatives.

This initiatives, the minister said should include dissemination of information on modern ways of farming to farmers even in the most remote part of the country especially with the federal government’s recent move  to develop the vast potentials of the Agricultural resources.

Chief Ogbe, who spoke at the yearly  General Meeting of the NIPR held at the Premier Hotel, Ibadan with the theme: “Networking for National Economy of Self-reliance – the Synergy of Agriculture and Communication”, said  the

Nigerian Institute of Public Relations is essential in the effective extension delivery service.

According to him NIPR is also essential  in dissemination of prime information on policy and programme marketing to key stakeholders by reaching out to the grassroots, the tertiary institutions, and farmers at all levels, farm tool manufacturers and international interest groups and organisations must be accepted as a key responsibility of communication sector.

Represented by Dr. (Mrs.) Doyin Awe, a director in the Ministry of Agriculture, Chief  Ogbeh (OFR) stated that in order to encourage the growth of certain crops in Nigeria, the federal government have developed a transparent mechanism of importation of improved grass seeds through due procurement.

“With all the efforts of. President Buhari to invest on Agriculture as a way of diverting the economy from oil to Agriculture, it is also conscious of the fact that a four-year tenure would not be enough to achieve a 360 degree turnaround of economy.

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, he said, had  taken  a bold step of designing a four-year road map for quick wins.
The agenda, the minister stressed, focuses on the private-sector driven agricultural activities at all levels and facts for both agro-export and food security.

He therefore urged NIPR to take interest in building supportive linkages and networks by linking our towns by publishing research results for various agro-allied institutes and schools.

In his presentation, the Dean of  Basic clinical sciences Afe Babalola University, Dr Laofe Ogundipe challenged NIPR to urgently embark on communication campaigns extolling the virtues of agriculture in order for our country to achieve desired socio economic development goals.

According to him,  Germany used allotment gardens to start their industrial revolution and banish hunger and poverty.
“ The People took to allotment gardens following strategic communication of need to do so.
“Nigeria can attain similar development if we use communication to embrace agriculture.
“ This is the synergy that will lead to development of our economy”. He added.

In his remark,  the deputy Governor of Oyo State, Chief Moses Alake Adeyemo,  who represented the Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi,  recognised the role of NIPR as strategic in every country who wants to succeed and encouraged them to work closely with both federal government and states to achieve economic and policy best practice.

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