O. B. Lulu–Briggs Foundation inaugurates Agro project to boost food security, support rural farmers

To commemorate the 19th anniversary of the O. B. Lulu-Briggs Foundation on September 21st, the foundation launched the Rural Agriculture Intervention Scheme for Sustainable Enterprise (RAISE) at Elibrada, a predominantly agrarian community in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The RAISE project according to Dr. Mrs. Seinye O. B. Lulu-Briggs, the Chairman Board of Trustees of the O. B. Lulu-Briggs Foundation, “aims to raise the economic value and capacity of our rural farmers by empowering them with the highly needed modern tools and skills to extract the best benefits from their agro enterprise.”

Mrs Lulu-Briggs said the RAISE Project was being kicked off with the Cassava Value-Chain pilot programme “which will see farmers in Elibrada, draw benefit from the full value-chain of Cassava farming and processing.” According to her, “the project goes beyond subsistence farming. It will be a purely commercial venture and will culminate in the processing of cassava for the production of garri, starch and the like with the aid of latest technology and machinery” at a factory to be set up in the community.

“Our belief at the O. B. Lulu-Briggs Foundation that agriculture is a lucrative business that can become a veritable source of life-long empowerment for communities in the Niger Delta, especially in challenging times like this, is what drives this initiative. This is why we have earmarked funds for the successful implementation of the project,” she assured while speaking through Chief Clifford Daerego, who represented her at the event.

On his part, while welcoming the Foundation’s delegation to Elibrada Community during the flagging-off ceremony of the RAISE project, the paramount ruler of the community, Chief Oha Abel Obilor thanked Dr. Mrs. Seinye O. B. Lulu-Briggs and the O. B. Lulu-Briggs Foundation for the thoughtful gesture of choosing Elibrada Community as the site for such a monumental project. He conveyed the appreciation of the entire community including the women and youth and assured the foundation of support and cooperation of the community at ensuring the successful implementation of the project.

The event, which drew attendance from a cross section of leaders and members of Elibrada community, the Vice Chairman of Emohua Local Government Area, Hon. Ngozi Nyemonwe also had in attendance a prominent Rivers State Politician Chief Emeh Glory Emeh, who commended the O. B. Lulu-Briggs Foundation for siting the project at Elibrada. Chief Emeh also extolled the virtues of Dr. Mrs. Seinye O. B. Lulu-Briggs, whom he hailed for carrying on with the laudable legacies of her beloved husband of blessed memory, High Chief (Dr.) O. B. Lulu-Briggs, who touched many lives with his exceptional philanthropy.

The high point of the event was the presentation of land by the community to the O. B. Lulu-Briggs Foundation as the project site for the Cassava Value-Chain farm and processing factory, which was received on its behalf by the Coordinator of Programmes of the O. B. Lulu Briggs Foundation, Mrs. Ineba Tongkam.