By Tracy Ohovwere
In line with Governor Monday Okpebholo’s SHINE agenda, the Edo State Government has intensified efforts to enhance the expertise of agricultural professionals through a two-day capacity-building programme organized by the John Odigie Oyegun Public Service Academy (JOOPSA).
The training, which held from Wednesday, July 23 to Thursday, July 24, 2025, focused on “Livestock Policy Development and Implementation Process.” It brought together over 100 key stakeholders and professionals from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, the Agriculture Development Programme, and other agricultural institutions within and beyond the state.
Declaring the training open, Director General of JOOPSA, Mrs. Gina Otamere, urged participants to fully engage in the sessions, emphasizing that the course content had been carefully designed to meet their professional development needs.
Also speaking, the Functioning Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Osayende Sunday, encouraged participants to embrace the training with an open mind in order to translate the knowledge gained into improved service delivery.
Leading the training was Mr. Peter Aikhuomobogbe, a retired Permanent Secretary from the same ministry, who facilitated a series of technical sessions and focus group discussions. He expressed appreciation to the state government and JOOPSA for the opportunity to share his experience with current professionals in the field.
Participants commended the state government for the initiative. Mr. Eno Otamere, Director of Animal Husbandry, lauded Governor Okpebholo, the Head of Service, Dr. Anthony Osas Okungbowa, and JOOPSA for the timely intervention, particularly in light of the Federal Government’s recent proposal to establish a Livestock Ministry.
Similarly, Mr. Aaron Akhabue, Head of the Fishery Department, praised the training and advocated for continuous capacity development programmes to equip workers with up-to-date knowledge and skills.
The programme underscores Edo State’s commitment to building a robust and modern agricultural workforce in support of food security and rural development.
