House of Representatives Eleme Constituency, Rivers State, pledges support to IITA-Onne

Impressed by IITA’s decision to reignite activities at its station in Onne, Honorable Josiah John Olu of Eleme Constituency in the Rivers State House of Representatives, during a courtesy visit to the station on 22 March, pledged to use his office to help upgrade the access road linking the station.

He said the location of the station will create easy access for the youth of his constituency to products from agricultural research. As such, it is necessary to have a good road network to facilitate operations at the station.

Richardson Okechukwu, Head, IITA station in Onne; David Oluwadare, Chief Security Manager; and Godwin Adomah, Community Liaison Officer, welcomed Hon. Olu and expressed IITA’s appreciation for the offer.

Okechukwu reiterated IITA’s commitment in transforming rural agriculture and noted that the station was open to provide
training on cassava, banana, and other related agribusiness activities to help reduce unemployment and empower youth in the area.

A week earlier, Francis Nwilene, Country Representative for AfricaRice Nigeria, accompanied by Abraham Shaibu, AfricaRice Ibadan, were at IITA in Onne on a working visit. Nwilene was also excited to see that activities were already progressing at the station after only one year of coming back into operation.