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Ekiti marks eighth anniversary with a walk
By David Atalese,
Special
Correspondent,
Ado-Ekiti
No fewer than 3,200 people drawn from various parts of Ekiti
State will accompany the state governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose to walk from
Government House to Oluyemi Kayode Stadium in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital on
Friday. The walk is part of activities to mark the eighth year anniversary of
the creation of Ekiti State.
Addressing a news conference on the 44th Independent
anniversary of the country, Special Adviser to the Governor on Communication,
Mr. Kehinde Odebunmi said a contingent of 200 people from each of the 16 local
government areas of the state are expected to participate in the two kilometre
walk.
He told reporters that the present administration in the
state is concerned with executing people oriented programmes and has
consequently been pursuing those things that were aimed at improving the lots
of the people since its inception.
Speaking on the nation’s independent anniversary, the
special adviser said: “It is no exaggeration that Nigeria has come a long
way since independence as past leaders have contributed immensely to the
socio-economic development of the nation, while our dear state has witnessed
various transformations in the last eight years”.
He stated that Fayose would broadcast to the people of the
state on radio and TV immediately after the national broadcast by President
Olusegun Obasanjo. Meanwhile, Eight centres of the Ekiti State Integrated
Poultry Scheme (IPS), which are expected to consume N1 billion and employ no
fewer than 5,000 school leavers, will be stocked with the first set of birds
before the middle of next month.
Governor Fayose told reporters at a news conference in
Ado-Ekiti, that the centres are located in Ado-Ekiti Local Government Area, and
at the College of Education, Ikere-Ekiti.
He described the scheme as part of his
administration’s effort to tackle the shortage of food in the state.
On other efforts being made to increase food production in
the state, Fayose disclosed that the problem was being addressed with the
arrival of 15 Chinese technicians to assist government in its special
programmes for zonal food security.
He disclosed that three pilot farms have been selected in
each of the three senatorial districts in the state with bore holes provided to
ensure all year round irrigation. Fayose stated that N11 million has been
disbursed to farmers to plough about 400 hectares of land to produce yam,
cassava and maize in the state.
He announced that about 300 farmers in the state have
enjoyed credit facilities from the government, while practical teaching of
agriculture has been reintroduced in secondary schools to rekindle the interest
of the youth in farming.
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