Group Calls On Government To Support Civil Servants In Agriculture

By Chinwe Onuigbo, Awka

The Civil Servants In Agriculture Foundation(CSIAF),on Sunday November 6,2022, Inaugurated the Anambra south zonal chapter in Anambra State.

The State Coordinator and Convener, Prince Orjika Donatus C.J, who was accompanied by Dr Ufondu Isaac(Chief Ethical Advisor, to the organisation) and author of best selling books, 1. My Salary is Not Enough;
2..The Fruit of Honesty ,among others., met with members of the Organization from the seven LGAs in the Senatorial zone of the State, at the Igwe Orizu palace hall, Otolo, Nnewi.

He highlighted the importance of dignity in labour and the joys of a humble and little beginnings! He stressed that CSIAF was a brain child of necessity; borne out the need to encourage the suffering Civil Servants and Pensioners, whose status as middle class citizens, are grossly undermined across board, by the current economic crunch, the resultant high costs of living and the declining sources of incomes for the average worker.

He admonished the Civil Servants and Pensioners across board, to take advantage of the current opportunities in Agriculture and Agro Values Chains, as a big cash cow in Nigeria and globally today, by joining The CIVIL SERVANTS IN AGRICULTURE FOUNDATION to gain relevant experience, expertise, capacities and access to funding windows, guaranteed thorough membership and shared experiences.

Also speaking, Dr Isaac Ufondu, the Chief Ethical Advisor, of the Organization, admonished the Civil Servants through a brief history of his long sojourn in social values re-orientations and human capital development, encouraged them to imbide the right mentality and attitudes towards Agriculture, in other to tap deeply into the mouthwatering opportunities therein.

He cited one of his books, My Salary Is Not Enough, as a classical work which he recommended every civil servant to read, as a guide to launch into the current stupendous wealths in agriculture and value chains, for a happy and sustainable retirement.

He promised to work closely with the Foundation to help members make the right choices at all times.

Further speaking, the State Coordinator while inaugurating the Mrs Chizoba Enweluzo led Zonal Chapter, buttressed the importance of selfless commitments, sacrifice, team work and service delivery as key ro desired ends; to raise the bar of awareness and more membership.

He said the CBN has expressed deep interests in supporting Civil Servants in Agriculture across board in this onerous task though approved funding windows in Agriculture by floating the Agriculture Intervention Guarantee Credit Scheme (soft loan) for civil servants et all and directed registered members to quickly open a loan account with Nirsal Micro Finance Bank PLC at Post Office,Eke Awka, to be part of the single digit loan process, ahead of the next farming season.

He called for resilience from all members; just as the Organization is also planning a two days sensitisation and capacity building agro values Workshop, for all members and interest public. Prince Orjika calles on Governments across-the-board, relevant stakeholders and philanthropists, to support Civil Servants in Agriculture with the needed tools, cash grants, farm inputs etc., to raise the bar in food production and marketing, to meet the current food shortages in Nigeria, grow the GDP of Anambra State and assure food security for all.

He stressed that the Inauguration of the Central a d North Zones would follow in quick succession as part of the sensitization process ahead of the workshop.

The high point of the inauguaral meeting was the customary courtesy call(Ibu ihu) to the Royal Father of Nnewi, HM Igwe K.O.N Orizu 111, who received members and celebrated with great enthusiasm and was adopted as Grand Patron of the Zone.