TEXT OF A SPEECH DELIVERED BY HON. ENGR. CHINEDU ENWEREUZO, THE EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN, UMUAHIA SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA ON THE OCCASION OF THE TREE PLANTING DAY AND AGRICULTURAL EXHIBITION
19 JUNE, 2025
Protocol;
It is with deep gratitude and a profound sense of purpose that I warmly welcome you all to this special occasion – our Tree Planting Day and Agricultural Exhibition, organized by the Umuahia South Local Government Authority.
This program is more than an event; it is a movement – a deliberate effort to reinvigorate our agricultural base and reawaken the farming spirit that has always been the pride of our people. We are gathered here today to remind ourselves that our soil is rich, our hands are strong, and our future can be prosperous if we invest wisely in agriculture.
As part of today’s and tomorrow’s activities, we are sensitizing our people – especially the youth, women, and rural farmers – on the immense economic and environmental benefits of tree planting, with a special emphasis on cocoa farming. Cocoa, as many of you know, is not just a tree – it is a tree of wealth. In states like Ondo, Cross River, and even in neighboring Ebonyi, cocoa has transformed communities. Why should Umuahia South be left behind?
We want to see cocoa farms flourishing in our communities again – creating jobs, improving incomes, and reducing poverty. This is why our local government is promoting tree planting, not only for environmental restoration but for economic empowerment.
In addition to cocoa, we are also distributing improved seedlings – including hybrid oil palm and other viable crops – to our farmers at no cost. These improved varieties are high-yielding, disease-resistant, and adapted to our climate. This is a practical step towards ensuring food security and economic development.
I am also pleased to inform you that Umuahia South Local Government is establishing a ginger farm. This bold step, once harvested, will help us stop importing ginger from other states. It will boost our local economy, provide income for farmers, and increase our agricultural independence.
Furthermore, during this exhibition, we will be engaging our people in interactive lectures and training sessions. These lectures will focus on modern farming techniques, agribusiness opportunities, and how to access agricultural support and grants. We are bringing experts to guide our farmers on how to increase productivity and profitability.
Let me also use this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Abia State, for his continuous guidance and visionary leadership. His support has provided the solid foundation upon which programs like this are being implemented for the benefit of our people.
Our administration remains unwavering in its commitment to rural development, sustainable agriculture, and environmental conservation. We are working closely with development partners and relevant government agencies to make sure that agriculture becomes the backbone of our local economy once again.
I thank all our stakeholders – the Ministry of Agriculture, local extension officers, traditional leaders, farmer cooperatives, NGOs, and our international partners – for standing with us in this noble cause. Your support is a testimony that together, we can plant the seeds of prosperity and harvest a better future for our people.
As we plant these trees today, may they grow into symbols of hope, prosperity, and renewal for generations to come.
Long live Umuahia South Local Government Area!
Long live Abia State!
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!
Thank you, and God bless you all.
Hon. Engr. Chinedu Enwereuzo
Executive Chairman
Umuahia South Local Government Area
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