Mrs Obaseki with Edo State Deputy governor and some of the beneficiaries of the initiative

Jethro Ibileke/Benin

As part of activities marking this year’s celebration of the world Women’s Day, Edo state First Lady, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki on Wednesday distributed 4000 special breed chickens to 100 widows selected from across the state.

The chickens which was locally developed by Amo Farms Limited, is capable of surviving any local condition in Nigeria, with each of the female capable of laying six eggs daily.

Mrs. Obaseki explained that during his electioneering campaign, her husband had promised to adopt 100 widows by empowering them with monthly stipends, but she encouraged him to empower them with something with which they could make money for themselves.

She said when her husband bought into her idea, she immediately invited the management of Amo Farms which had benefited from a loan scheme she coordinated at Bank of Industries (BOI), to bring the pilot project of the special breed chicken to Edo state.

In her speech for the occasion, Mrs. Obaseki said “the theme for the celebration ‘Be Bold do Change’s is a wake call for women not to allow themselves to be constrained by cultural norms and stereotypes but to be more assertive and ready to contribute significantly to society’s development.

“Again, this occasion provides another opportunity to re-emphasise the need to dismantle the barrier which prevents women from realising their potentials and contribute fully to the economic and social political life of their communities.”

The Managing Director of Amo Farms Limited, Dr. Ayoola Oduntan, explained that the chikens are of special breed, with Nigerian environmental factors in mind and are capable of eating virtually anything.

He explained that his company would hatch no fewer than 1.5 million of the special chickens while disclosing that the company is proposing to build the largest abattoir in Nigeria in Edo state to to process chickens raised in the state.

In his speech, the state Deputy Governor, Mr. Philip Shaibu, who represented Governor Godwin Obaseki, said agriculture is one of the quickest ways to move the nation out of recession.

He lauded Mrs. Obaseki for her foresight and innovation, in  giving to the widows means of livelihood.

Each of the 100 widows were given 40 male and female chickens.