By Jennifer Omiloli
The traditional ruler of Gaate community at Kokona Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, Ibrahim Adamu has commended the Nigeria Farmers Group and Cooperative Society for its development strides in the community in the last two years.
He made this known on Saturday during the second annual general meeting (AGN) of NFGCS while appreciating the group for the development the community has witnessed through their agriculture revolution initiative, which has helped engaged over 300 people in the community.
Zarki Adamu who was in the company of his council of chiefs and traditional rulers from neighboring communities, revealed that the initiative has not only reduced the rate of crime in the community and neighbouring communities but has also improved the standard of living of his people.
“Before you came here, most of my people can’t even earn up to a N1000 in a week but now some can earn up 10,000 in a week”.
“Parents can now send their children to school. They can now feed their family with ease. We no longer hear of incidents of kidnapping and robbery because the people have all been engaged meaningfully”.
The monarch, who called on his people seeking greener pasture in cities like Abuja to come back home to take advantage of the opportunity NFGCS has brought to them, revealed that some youths of the community in the city are gradually returning home to work in the farm which he said offers them the best compare to the risk they take in the city for stipend they earn.
“You can see our roads are being managed by the cooperative and we are aware there are plans to connect light to this community”, so we will continue to offer any support you people want from us, said the community head who thanked the national coordinator, Retson Tedheke and other investors for bringing civilization to his community.
On his part, Olajide Abiola, Credit and Risk, described the people of Gaate as very committed and industrious people you can hardly find. He thanked the community for the support shown to the cooperative from inception and prayed that Gaate will not only become a city in the next one year but also a centre of government interest.
Retson Tedheke, national coordinator of the Nigeria Farmers Group and Cooperative Society there is no other way the cooperative could have shown appreciation to the community than what they have been doing.
He recalled that when they newly visited Gaate, the community was skeptical about their intention but the traditional head had confidence in them and today, a lot of lives have been changed through the initiative.
He noted that aside the over 300 indigenes already engaged by the cooperative, over 1000 of them have been enrolled into the NFGCS platform among the 10,000 active members.
He noted that, “though there have been challenges, things are getting better by the day and it has been a very interesting adventure so far”, he assured.
