By Wilbet Ijeoma (NewsView)
OKPE, Delta State — It was a day of excitement and renewed hope in Okolovu community, Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State, as the state government, through the Delta Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus (D-CARES)/FADAMA programme, empowered 70 farmers with agricultural inputs.
The intervention, which took place on October 24, 2026, saw the community erupt in singing and celebration as beneficiaries received support aimed at strengthening their livelihoods and improving food production.
The empowerment programme, implemented by the Delta State Government in collaboration with the Federal Government and the World Bank, brought together 30 poultry farmers, 20 pumpkin farmers, 10 pepper farmers and 10 fish farmers from across Okolovu community.
The intervention also pushed the number of beneficiaries reached through the programme to 17,660, according to the officials.
Leading the D-CARES/FADAMA team to the community was the Commissioner for Economic Planning and Chairman of the D-CARES State Steering Committee, Mr Sonny Ekedayen, who conveyed the goodwill of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to the beneficiaries.
Ekedayen congratulated the farmers and urged them to make judicious use of the inputs, stressing that the government was deliberately investing in productive ventures capable of providing sustainable income for families.
“Sometimes the government would give cash empowerment which is not sustainable, but this one is what would bring food to your table and put money in your pockets at all times,” the Commissioner said.
He expressed confidence that the agricultural support would stimulate economic activity within Okolovu and beyond.
Using poultry farming as an example, Ekedayen said beneficiaries could substantially increase their earnings if they managed the inputs properly. Each poultry farmer received 50 birds and seven bags of feed, which, according to him, could translate into significant income when the birds matured and were sold.
He noted that the strong demand for protein, particularly chicken and fish during the yuletide period, presented an opportunity for the beneficiaries to generate substantial returns from the intervention.
The Commissioner also urged the beneficiaries to extend the benefits of the programme to other members of the community by sharing their knowledge and supporting others to succeed.
The State Coordinator of D-CARES, Lady Dr. Patience Ogbewe, popularly known as Mama-Cares, said the empowerment was designed to strengthen the capacity of farmers, increase food production and improve household incomes, nutrition and general living conditions.
According to her, the intervention aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 1 — No Poverty.
“This is in tandem with the Sustainable Development Goal, SDG 1, which is ‘No Poverty’,” Ogbewe said.
She expressed appreciation to Governor Oborevwori for making the intervention possible under his administration’s MORE Agenda, while also commending the Commissioner for Economic Planning for his consistent support for the D-CARES/FADAMA programme.
‘Governor’s Ukodo Has Finally Reached Okolovu’
Earlier, the State Project Coordinator of FADAMA and Technical Head, D-CARES RA2, Therese Omame, congratulated the beneficiaries and expressed delight that Okolovu had finally been captured in the empowerment drive.
Omame disclosed that 14 communities in Okpe Local Government Area had so far benefited from the programme, including Amua-Idiemo, Okuovo and Osubi, among others.
She described the intervention in Okolovu as a significant milestone, expressing confidence that the Governor’s “Ukodo” had finally reached the people of the community.
The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Political Matters, Hon. Ileleji Wilfred, also congratulated the beneficiaries and commended the Commissioner and his team for bringing the empowerment programme to Okolovu.
He praised Governor Oborevwori for extending government interventions to communities across the state and assured the administration of the continued support of the people.
In a goodwill message, Comrade John Akareko described the intervention as unprecedented in Okolovu.
According to him, it was the first time such an empowerment programme had been brought directly to the community.
Akareko commended the Governor, Commissioner, D-CARES Coordinator and their teams for effectively implementing the programme, while assuring the administration of the community’s support.
The Commissioner led the presentation of the agricultural inputs to the beneficiaries.
Each poultry farmer received 50 birds and seven bags of feed, while fish farmers received 50 fingerlings and seven bags of feed.
The vegetable farmers received improved varieties of pepper and pumpkin seeds, alongside bags of fertilizer and 15 bags of organic manure.
Representing the various beneficiary groups at the presentation were Comrade John Akareko of Omorhode Fish Farmers, Princess Happy Eda of Eda Pumpkin Vegetable Farmers, Felix Oromayire of Okayogbane Poultry Farmers and Monday Adivore of Progress Pepper Farmers.
They each received the inputs on behalf of their respective groups and pledged to ensure their judicious use for the benefit of the farmers, their
families and the wider community.
The beneficiaries expressed appreciation to Governor Oborevwori for remembering Okolovu, describing the intervention as the first of its kind in the community.
They pledged to use the inputs productively and expressed support for the Governor’s re-election bid.
The Commissioner, while urging the beneficiaries to ensure that the intervention produced the desired results, charged them to reciprocate the government’s gesture.
“One good turn deserves another,” Ekedayen said, urging the beneficiaries and residents of Okolovu to support Governor Oborevwori, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other APC candidates in the forthcoming general elections.
The event was attended by the Head of Operations, D-CARES Coordinating Unit, Mr Christopher Oyenike; SSA to the Governor on Political Matters, Hon. Ileleji Wilfred; the Head of Okolovu Community, Pa Peter Akporo Okegbe; Community Chairman, Noah Akareko; Inspector Adivore, as well as staff of the D-CARES office and community stakeholders.
The ceremony featured opening remarks, addresses by the State Coordinator and Commissioner, presentation of input vouchers and agricultural inputs, presentation of kolanuts by the community, press interviews and a group photograph.
For the people of Okolovu, however, the significance of the day went beyond the distribution of farm inputs. It represented a renewed sense of inclusion, opportunity and hope that government interventions could reach even communities that had long waited to be remembered.