Niger State Government has signed a tripartite agreement on food production between Niger Foods, Niger State Universal Basic Education Board (NSUBEB) and Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) Niger State Chapter.
Chairman Niger Foods, Mr. Sammy Adigun signed on behalf of the State Government while the Executive Chairman, NSUBEB, Muhammad Baba Ibrahim signed on behalf of the Board as the Chairman, NUT Niger State Chapter Adamu Akayago signed on behalf of NUT.
The agreement will see Niger Foods supply farm inputs and other implements to interested teachers that will engage in crop production.
Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago commended the Teachers for going into partnership with Niger Foods and assured them of continuous support while calling on other groups and Associations to key into his agricultural revolution describing Agriculture as the only way to addressing food insecurity.
He said the initiative will also foster prosperity among stakeholders in the education sector adding that houses and health centres will be built for the teachers which will also bring fortune for the younger generation.
Chairman Niger Foods, Mr. Sammy Adigun said varieties of farm inputs and implements will be provided to the benefitting teachers with each farmer to be given packs of sprayer,herbicide and insecticide.
The Executive Chairman of NSUBEB, Muhammad Baba Ibrahim, who said the Board is to broker the relationship between Niger Foods and Teachers, described the agreement as a new page in the lives of teachers in the State.
He disclosed that there are 25,000 teachers across the State including about 3,000 administrators and most of them have already indicated interest in the initiative.
The Executive Chairman NSUBEB said the initiative will increase food production, add value to teachers and as well reduce cost of feeding of students.
Meanwhile, Governor Bago inspected the Niger Foods Tractors’ Assembly plant, where he expressed satisfaction with what he saw on the ground, adding that similar Assembly Plants will be established in all the 25 Local Government Areas of the State.
He was also at one of the the Niger Foods Warehouse housing some of the 50,000 metric tons of food items directed to be taken to all the 25 Local Government Areas at 50 percent discount.
The Governor said the investment in agriculture is already yielding positive results as the tons of food were harvested during the dry season farming, and expressed optimism of better harvest ahead.
