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Isoko councils hold ecomomic summit

By Michael Ekokoruwe
07 April 2017   |   4:01 am
The Isoko ethnic nationality in Delta State has held a summit aimed at diversifying the economy, improve human capital development, reduce poverty of the people and explore new avenues of business developments in the face of the current economic reality.

Ifeanyi Okowa, Delta State Governor

The Isoko ethnic nationality in Delta State has held a summit aimed at diversifying the economy, improve human capital development, reduce poverty of the people and explore new avenues of business developments in the face of the current economic reality.

It was held at Oleh, Isoko South local government area.

The theme was: “Harnessing Isoko Economic Potentials and Opportunities for sustainable development.”

It was organised by the chairmen of the two local government areas, Sir Ithiako Constantine Ikpokpo of Isoko South and Hon. Emmanuel Ajirioghene Egbabor of Isoko North. The idea for the summit was borne out of the chairmen’s determination to attract both local and foreign investors to Isokoland and increase the level of economic activities, create employment and fasttrack development.

Governor Author Ifeanyi Okowa, while commending the two chairmen, speakers and paper presenters, said he was happy to witness the summit as it was the first of its kind in the area. He noted that organizing the people was important towards harnessing the economic potentials for sustainable development.

Okowa said “we cannot continue to depend on oil to sustain the economy,” urging farmers to key into the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN’s) borrowing policy of nine per cent yearly interest loan and belong to cooperatives to enable them participate actively in farming activities.

Earlier, the presidents-general of various Isoko communities outlined cultural farming and business activities in the area, stressing that the ethnic nationality is the third largest producer of oil and gas in Delta State. It is also the largest producer of cassava and other farm products in Ozoro, Owhe and Uzere.

Other communities with various farm produce are plantain at Okpe – Isoko and Umeh, fish in Uzere, Umeh and Aviara, groundnut and pineapple at Emevor, Iyede and production of palm oil in Iyede, Olomoro, Ozoro, Ofagbe, Irri, Igbide among others.

The summit with erudite speakers, discussants, opinion leaders, public analyst commentators and stakeholders like professor Abednego Ekoko, Sir Ayodele Othihiwa, professor Samuel Aghalino, Dr. Christopher Ogagaoghnene Akpotu and others, urged private investors to partner with Isoko people in the development of the area.

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