Ogidi community came alive with activities as it marked this year’s New Yam celebration. The event drew guests from across the country and abroad, such as the Netherlands Ambassador to Nigeria Ms. Marion Kappeyne, reports Janefrances Chibuzor.
Netherlands Ambassador to Nigeria Ms. Marion Kappeyne has said her country and Nigeria are working on the need to strengthen bilateral relationship between the two countries with emphasis on agriculture, food security and sustainable economy and employment, focusing on women.
Kappeyne, who spoke at the Ogidi Day and New Yam Celebration, stressed the importance of Nigeria getting everybody to go to school, as education will help in its development.
According to her, “it is very important to work with the regional people, who know exactly what the region is doing and what the regional strengths and dynamics are”. “I think the dynamics and possibilities are different from state to state, so the ways to move forward differ, while the Federal Government works in a more transcending way,” she said.
Kappeyne recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari visited the Netherlands last year and a bilateral memorandum of understanding was signed with a view to strengthen Nigeria-Netherlands ties.
“At the end of last year my Minister of Foreign Affairs came to Nigeria and a first round of consultations was held, to implement the Memorandums’ intentions. One of the areas where we will work more closely together is agriculture,” she said.
The Ambassador emphasised that Nike Arts Gallery Curator, Chief Nike Okundaye, is playing an immense role in helping to develop her people, commending her immeasurable support to the development of the Ogidi community.
“I know that 50 per cent of the people living here are women. So, why do we not see more women chiefs? For better insight and better political decision-making, for better governance, all statistics all around the globe indicate results get much better, and economies will grow strongly, if women are empowered and equally involved in decision making. That also holds true for Nigeria. So, my piece of advice is also to appoint more women chiefs, and to get more women into decision making positions in all regions. And that brings me back to education, and the importance of equal opportunities and more girls in schools!
“And in Ogidi, in Kogi State, I see a lot of fertile land around here that could be used for farm area. Agriculture being one of the focus areas in the bilateral relations between my country and Nigeria, I will mention this region to the agricultural expert in our Embassy. It may not be one of the regions especially envisaged now, but who knows what may still be possible.
“I don’t want to get your hopes too high though; we are only a small country (although second worldwide in Agri-business and also in innovation) and we cannot work everywhere. I think all people of Kogi should join hands to improve farming that is already going on in Ogidi. I am very happy to be here and seeing the rich culture and great people here. And the colours! You have so much to be proud of. And finally, I believe agriculture has a great future in this region, let’s all work for that,” she added
Source: https://thenationonlineng.net/ogidi-new-yam-fiesta-envoy-canvasses-more-women-chiefs/
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