British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation
Supports Oil Palm Farmers in Logara
An economic cum historical event happened in Logara Autonomous Community, Ngor-Okpala Local Government Area, Imo State, on 15th day of September, 2016 when the British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF) in colaboration with Imo State Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) visited the community for the Flag-Off of the Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) programme on oil palm.
The BATNF officials at the event included:
- Mr. Fatai Afolabi, the team leader and member of the Technical committee
- Abimbola Okoya, General Manager, and
- Mr. Tajudeen Akinwande, the Projects Manager
The team of the Imo State Agricultural Development Programme (ADP), Owerri, was led by Pastor Anayochi Jonathan, the Acting Programme Manager who in his presentation titled ‘Back to the basics’ said “The coming of British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation to support oil palm farmers in three Local Government Areas of Imo State: Ngor-Okpala, Onuimo and Orsu, goes to show the level of commitment and interest on the welfare and well being of farmers in Imo State.”
The Logara community was agog at the rare event and attended in their numbers, including women groups, the townsmen and Youths organisation. The community leaders, prominently HRH, Eze Felix I. Njoku, Ogaraku II of Logara, Ndi Nze, the President-General and executive council of Logara Community Development Union (LCDU), were all present at the occasion.
The flag-off event was for Ngor-Okpala LGA, and so other communities in the local government sent representatives. The Secretary of Onyeaghalanwanneya Communities Assembly, Hon. Obi Afulezi represented the umbrella organisation.
In his welcome address, the PG of LCDU, Bro. Peter A. Ogwuru (KSM) who was the chairman at the occasion, said “…our people are mainly farmers blessed with a vast fertile land that yields more than anywhere else. We have capable and willing manpower to turn this area into the food basket of Imo State. With the partnership of British American Tobacco Foundation and the Imo ADP, it is certain that the journey towards liberation of the people from peasant farming to mechanised/export earning agriculture has started.”
The highlight of the Flag-Off event was the planting of oil palm trees in the vicinity of the Logara Town Hall, as can be seen in the photos below.
An ADP lady Master of Ceremony at the event piloted the activities excellently, to the admiration of everyone. Kudos ! to her.
Photoshow of the event
A section of Logara citizens at the event
Another view of the personalities
Flag-Off Planting of the palms
Flag-Off Planting of the palms
Eze Logara, blessing the soil and plant
BATNF officials share joy at the completion of the event
A hilarious Eze Logara being interviewed
Group photo with the personalities
LogaraCommunityDevelopment.org 