CBN agricultural programmes have saved Nigeria from hunger – Prof Ife
A renowned Professor of Economics and Economic Consultant to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Prof. Ken Ife, says the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) vision of getting Nigerians back to the land and implementing clear cut agricultural programmes have saved the nation from impact of hunger.
He stated this at Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu on Saturday
during the International Business and Leadership Summit with the theme: “Productivity Development in the New Normal” and public presentation of a book, “Productivity Development text and practical manual ‘, written by the Director-General of the Enugu Chamber of Commerce ,Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA),Engr. Henry Awuregu.
Ife said: “The visionary CBN intervention is feeding most Nigerians today as well as some neighbouring countries
“If not by the grace of God that the apex bank pursued vigorously these agricultural programmes meant to return thousands of Nigerians back to land, the story would have been so different today.
“So one asked why is the agricultural produce not enough? It is because the projection for the whole intervention is only for our real number, which is about 200 million.
“But, today, as a nation, we are feeding 300 million people. The additional number, which is 100 million people are from our neighbouring francophone countries within the ECOWAS sub-region.
“On regular basis, you see them come to our big local boundary markets, buy and stock truck loads of food stuffs heading to their countries, where the hunger situation is beating harder,” he said.
Speaking during the public presentation of the book on productivity development, the book Reviewer, Prof. Steve Egbo, Executive Director(Administration training), Nigeria Television Authority(NTA,) said that Engr. Nduka Awuregu, had provided solution to under performance in various spheres of life.
Represented by Chidi Okolie, Egbo noted that the 12 chapters book dealt extensively on time management and through it “one can work smarter rather than harder”.
“The book is a practical guide to personal and team time and resources management as well as increase in profitability and resourcefulness,” he said.
In a remark, the Chairman of the occasion and minister of State for Mines and Steel Development , Dr. Uchechukwu Ogah, who was represented by a former Governorship aspirant in Enugu state, Dr. Emma Nwamkpa, urged participants to put what they learnt into use.
Speaking, the author of the book , Engr. Awuregu, said that the book was a product of his decades of experience in the business and academic world.
Awuregu, who is also the Director-General of South-East Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (SECCIMA), said the book would definitely enable greater achievements in income and prosperity for those that would apply the knowledge in the book into practical daily work and lifestyle.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Vice – Chancellor of Godfrey Okoye University, Rev. Fr. Prof. Christian Anieke, noted that” Productivity and creativity are connected in the sense that productivity is of a creative nature”
He hinted that human beings have organised their productive activities in different ways to achieve maximum productivity. Rev. Fr. Prof. Anieke said that political system, economic system, cultural and social systems have always been organized to enhance human labour and productivity .
The Vice-Chancellor said the summit was aimed at discussing productivity in such a way that one can see different ways of improving human productivity. “It is our hope that the participants will gain deep insight into how human productivity can be promoted.
“This very important summit is useful in our society this time more than any other time. Productivity is not only about physical things . It is also about spiritual things. Infact, anything that borders on the output of human creativity is an aspect of human productivity
“Therefore, to be more productive and achieve greater results, you simply need to have this book (manual) and enroll into the university’s Productivity Development certificate course as well”, Re. Fr. Prof. Anieke said.
By Ngozi Ikpeama -March 19, 2022
