FAO Delegates Sensitize Awo-Ommamma Stakeholders On Nourishing Nigeria Project

By Orji Sampson 

A combined staff of  Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations Organization and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, yesterday August 20,2026, visited Comprehensive Secondary School Awo-Ommamma in Oru-East Local Government Area of Imo.

In a press release made available to Info news.com by the Public Relations Officer of Secondary Education Management Board Imo State, Mr Paschal Njoku, he disclosed that the joint project monitoring team was in the state to ascertain the level of compliance and work done so far at the project site after the release of the first instalment fund.

The monitoring team according to the press release,used the facility visit to interface with members of the community and sensitize them on the benefits and need to sustain the project.

Addressing members of the community led by their traditional ruler,HRH Eze Engr.Theodore Onyeneku,the leader of the delegation,Mr Isiaka Ibrahim,a nutrition and food specialist staff of FAO,said that only Niger state and Imo state are lucky to have the project.He disclosed that Hon.Chike Okafor member representing Obowo ihitte-Uboma,Mbano at the Federal House of Representative was the brain behind the project in Imo.

He said the the project is known as Nourishing Nigeria Project which is aimed at improving food production in the country.The FAO staff noted that the farm is expected to produce food that will be used to feed the students and sell some to make profits.He urged the indigenes of the community to ensure that the farm is secured and the initiative sustained,stressing that they will have a lot to benefit.He added that the programme is innovative,having children to go into agriculture,pointing out that FAO is bringing back the school garden initiative and inculcating good habit to students.

Concluding,he said that they expect to see enhanced productivity and increased stakeholders collaboration.He thanked the royal father for mobilizing his people en masse.

Addressing  the visitors,the royal father said that he is happy that his community has been remembered,though not surprised.

He noted that Awo-omamma is centre of Education and disclosed that the school has produced a lot of great men and women in the country.He thanked them for choosing Awo-omamma for the pilot project in the South-East and assured them that his people will protect the project as they have promised.

Eze Onyeneku disclosed that he does not hoard information,adding that his subjects trooped out enmasse to receive them because they were duly informed.

He said that the agric project which is going on in Niger and Imo state is a pilot project for others to come and learn.

He further disclosed that he taught mathematics,physics and further-maths in the school years ago before the civil war.

In their separate remarks,Chief Rowland Onyeuka an Old Boy of the school,said that they will inform the students of the importance of agriculture and the need to embrace the programme.

Chief Engr.Chris Njoku(Eze-elect), thanked FAO for the project,while

Mr Nick Ndedigwe,Tony Nwanochie,Chief Ossy Ajanna and others stressed on security of the project and it's sustainability.

Also speaking,the Executive Secretary Secondary Education Management Board SEMB Imo State,Mrs Theresa Okwu,said that the turn out has shown that there is cooperation in the community.She said that the project if sustained will take them to greater heights.She further hinted that the project is Nourishing Nigeria Project,stressing that they are not going to use fertilizer for the crops.She warned against vandalization and urged them to preach the message.

Lending her voice,the Permanent Secretary  Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education Imo State,Dr Mrs Benadette Okorie,thanked FAO for what they are doing and urged the community to secure the place.

Newsmen gathered that the royal father came with members of his cabinet,including the President-General of the Community,Mr Vitalis Ihekanwa, youth leaders,

Some stakeholders and concerned indigenes who also made their inputs.

The team of monitors included Dr Aisha Nasiru Isa,Deputy Director department of Nutrition and Food Safety,Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security,and Alhaji Salisu Mohammed, Measurement and Evaluation Specialist FAO Nigeria.