Senator Stephen Odey (Associate Prof), Cross River State Commissioner for Education, presented the keynote address, charging stakeholders to promote sustainable implementation of the agricultural policies and programmes through inclusive participation of young people within the State educational system and beyond.

The Commissioner made this charge as the Education Committee on Young Farmers Club in Schools hosts its inaugural annual seminar for stakeholders with the theme ‘Fostering Agricultural Development and Food Security in Education’, held at Hogis Event Hall, Bishop Monarch Avenue, State Housing Estate, Calabar.

During the Seminar, goodwill messages were presented by eminent personalities and leaders which included the Cross River State House of Assembly Committee Chairman on Education, Hon Dr Martin Achadu, Special Adviser on Education, Dr. Mrs Afiong Ugbaja, Executive Secretary, Science and Technical Education Board (STEB), Dr Emmanuel Etim Effiong, and many others.

In attendance at the event were Directors from the State Ministry of Education, Coordinating Supervisory Directors, Education Secretaries from the 18 LGAs, Principals Head teachers, Agricultural science teachers and learners who are members of Young Farmers Club (YFC).

The event which is currently ongoing, will have paper presentations from the academia:
Paper 1: Professor E. Ajake, University of Calabar (Fostering Agriculture Development in Education).
Paper 2: Professor Igiri Bassey Okon, Director Research and Development University of Calabar (Advocacy and Mobilization of Stakeholders Collaboration for the Sustainable Realization of the Young Farmers Club in Schools Programme).
Paper 3: Engr. Paul Gekpe (Catch them young leveraging technology to drive food security).
Paper 4: Ekoj Christopher (Harnessing Practical Agricultural Extra Curricular activity for streamlined curriculum realization).

The vision of Young Farmers Club is to develop a framework for channeling and delivery of programmes aimed at the development of Young Farmers for Agricultural sustainability in Cross River State.

September 24, 2024