By Wilbet Ijeoma (NewsView)
The Delta State Governor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori has reached 70 beneficiaries in the hinterland Okrama community in Isoko North Local Government Area, Delta State, with input vouchers and agric inputs such as day old chicks, fingerlings, improved cassava stem varieties, fungicides, herbicides, feeds and fertilizers, through the D-CARES/FADAMA delivery platform.
The event which took place on 5th November 2026 at St. Luke’s Anglican Church hall in the neighboring Ukpude community, came after two years of waiting on account of inaccessible road to the community during the rainy season.
The Governor, represented by the Honourable Commissioner for Economic Planning, Mr Sonny Ekedayen, congratulated the beneficiaries for their perseverance, belief and patience in making the day a reality, describing it as an opportunity for all which nobody lobbied for, thereby foretelling the reality of the MORE Agenda in reaching out to the people no matter their location.
Ekedayen who doubles as the Chairman of State Steering Committee of D-CARES dismissed political claims attributed to the programme, admitting that the government is very deliberate and intentional in the deliveries to communities around the state considered as very active farming communities.
The Commissioner noted that the 70 beneficiaries of Okrama community comprising 30 poultry, 30 fishery and 10 cassava farmers would add to the previous tally of 17,940 beneficiary farmers supported so far in Delta State.
“This intervention which captured mostly women will help to improve food production and circulation, and raise the financial profile of households”; Ekedayen stated, urging beneficiaries to maximize the benefits of the opportunity.
“One good turn deserves another”; the Commissioner’ concluded, as he urged the beneficiaries’ and in general the good people of Okrama community to reciprocate the kind gesture of the Governor by voting for him, Mr President and all APC candidates in the forthcoming general elections.
The State Coordinator of D-CARES, Lady Dr. Patience Ogbewe, speaking during the event, reiterated that FADAMA intervention is food intervention to ensuring.food security. According to her, FADAMA is concerned with scaling up agricultural production, expanding on the types of inputs given to farmers. “The goal is principally to ensure that communities which hitherto had no evidence of developmental activities become vibrant communities by this intervention;” Ogbewe noted.
The choice of rural communities for the intervention is strategic, Ogbewe noted, as 70% of rural dwellers are farmers with the majority being women and the elderly. According to her, this composition will guarantee food production in the community and the diversification of inputs to include poultry and fishery different from the traditional cassava farming will make farming attractive to the teeming youths.
While congratulating the beneficiaries, Ogbewe urged them to utilize the inputs effectively and treasure them for sustainable farming and development.
Earlier in her welcome remarks, the State Project Coordinator FADAMA/Technical Head D-CARES RA2, Therese Omame congratulated the beneficiaries for their patience since two years ago when FADAMA commenced the implementation process in their community. According to her, the rainy season made the community not accessible, but FADAMA had to find ways to navigate the challenge which led to the realization of the day’s event She however expressed joy seeing the beneficiaries’ receiving support from the government after a long period of waiting.
She enjoined the beneficiaries’ to thank God for this golden opportunity and the Governor for reaching out to Okrama community in spite of the difficult terrain, while urging the beneficiaries to use the inputs for the purpose it was intended.
In a goodwill message, Uyero Erarawewho, who is one of Okrama community leaders, congratulated the beneficiaries’ while thanking the Governor and the FADAMA team for the empowerment which he described as a first-time grassroots intervention. According to him, this intervention is more than a mere distribution of inputs; it is a restoration of hope, dignity and productivity for the Okrama people.
Some of the beneficiaries who spoke to journalists expressed delight over the empowerment, confirming that it was the first of its kind in Okrama community.
Revrd Daniel Isaiah,,one of the poultry beneficiaries commended the Governor for his visionary leadership and the FADAMA team for ensuring the inputs reach the beneficiaries
despite the remote location of Okrama community, while seeking further intervention on the deplorable access road. On how the beneficiaries were selected, Isaiah dismissed politicization of the process, and affirmed that beneficiaries were selected across families that comprise the Okrama community as each family is represented.
Mrs Glory Augustine, another poultry beneficiary farmer, was full of praises to the Governor and assured that his reelection is already a walkover.
The Commissioner led the presentation of the inputs to the beneficiaries, and charged them to put the seeds to.good use. The various groups includes Elo-oghene fishery farmers, Oke-oghene fishery farmers represented by Emuore Oke, Ogbodu poultry farmers represented by Ese Lucky Emamuzo, Atano fishery farmers, Okugbe-oghene poultry farmers, Ewoma poultry farmers represented by Mrs Glory Augustine, and Evi cassava farmers represented by Mr Emmanuel Ogheneroro. Beneficiaries’ took turns to appreciate the Governor for his kind gesture while expressing delight over the empowerment, and assuring the Governor of their massive support for his reelection bid for second tenure to do more.
Also present in the event were Head of Operations D-CARES Coordinating Unit Mr. Christopher Oyenike, SA to the Commissioner for Economic Planning Mr Charles Iyoha, as well as staff of the D-CARES office.
Highpoints of the event were welcome remarks, State Coordinator’s and Commissioner’s addresses, presentation of inputs vouchers and the agric inputs to beneficiaries, press interview and group photograph.
