The Deputy Governor of Delta State, Sir Monday Onyeme, Ph.D., has called on Deltans in the diaspora to look homeward and invest in the state’s growing economy.
Speaking on Monday at the commissioning of Plantain and Flour Processing Facility, established by the Ollantay Tambo Flour and Seventh Computer Logistics Nigeria Limited at Aboh, Ndokwa East Local Government Area of Delta State, Sir Onyeme emphasized that value-added agriculture is the key to transforming the state’s rural economy.
He said, “this is a very rare one, something I know that, over the years, both within and beyond our land, we have been yearning for our sons and daughters to come back home.
“You know, if you travel outside and you see something good, the proper thing to do is to learn, copy the good ideas, and bring them back to your place so that your own people can benefit from it. And that is exactly what has happened here today.
“I was truly excited when I heard about this project because I fully understand the importance of value added to agriculture.
“We all know that this area is probably one of the highest producers of plantain in this country, but we also know that the shelf life of plantain is very short.
“If you harvest plantain today and within a week you do not eat it or use it, it will spoil, this project will assist our farmers greatly.
“When you process plantain, you add value and extend its shelf life, for example, processed plantain flour or plantain chips can last for six months or even more if properly produced and stored.
“I want to thank you, Mr. Ananenu, I sincerely appreciate your vision and I am sure that apart from this wonderful initiative you have started, with the encouragement you will receive from people like us including your council chairman, more ideas and opportunities will continue to emerge.
“This community has enormous potentials, if you talk about aquaculture, it is here, if you talk about marine transportation, it is here, if you talk about oil and gas, it is here and now, agro-processing, which you have started, is also here.
” Congratulations.”
The Chairman, Ndokwa East Local Government Area, Hon. Vincent Osilonya noted that, the commissioning of the plantain flour processing factory is in line with what the council have always envisioned.
Earlier in an address, the CEO, Ollantay Tambo Flour and Seventh Computer Logistics Nig Ltd, Mr. Raymond Ananenu, the Uti of Aboh Kingdom said, the Plantain and flour Processing facility is mainly food processing plant that would add value to the agriculture food chain.
He said the facility has modern equipment to process harvested plantain, yam and rice into flour and other food products.
Chief Ananenu who took the Deputy Governor and other dignitaries on a facility tour of the plant explained the working of the various machines and processing plants.
The ceremony was attended by the Obi of Aboh Kingdom, His Imperial Majesty, Obi Greg Oputa III, traditional rulers, among other personalities.
