Ebonyi State Governor, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, has called on the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to extend its Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) to all local government areas in the state to accelerate rural development and strengthen agricultural production.
The governor also pledged his administration’s commitment to Ada consolidating and scaling up the programme to address the agricultural and agro-allied needs of the people.
Nwifuru made the commitment on Thursday while receiving an IFAD delegation led by its Country Director, Mohammed El-Ghazaly, at his office in Ochudo Centenary City, Abakaliki.
The governor commended IFAD for its support and confidence in Ebonyi State, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to agricultural development under the state’s People’s Charter of Needs Agenda.
“We thank you for believing in us and for agreeing to stay in Ebonyi State. I am sure the remaining local governments, as presented yesterday, will be included to benefit from the project,” the governor said.
He also expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for supporting the initiative and said the programme aligned with his administration’s development priorities.
Earlier, IFAD Country Director Mohammed El-Ghazaly said the delegation visited Ebonyi to assess the progress of the VCDP and review the steps required to complete the programme before its scheduled closure in December.
El-Ghazaly commended the state government for releasing counterpart funds, noting that the administration’s interest in expanding the programme could help sustain its impact.
The proposed expansion is expected to broaden the programme’s reach and strengthen support for rural communities and agricultural value chains across Ebonyi State, subject to the programme’s implementation arrangements.
Written by Enitan Mudashiru
