Abia First Lady Champions Home Gardening for Food Security, Empowers Women with Millions as cash Prizes

By Ogbonnaya Ikokwu On Oct 21, 2025

The Wife of Abia State Governor, Mrs. Priscilla Otti, has encouraged women to continue prioritizing agricultural endeavours, drive innovations, and promote sustainable practices as a means to combat food insecurity and improve family nutrition.

Mrs. Otti gave the charge at the Banquet Hall of Government House, Umuahia, during an event themed “Every Home a Garden” and Prize Giving Day Ceremony, a programme of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) of the Wife of the President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, held in collaboration with the Office of the Wife of the Governor.

Represented by the Wife of the Deputy Governor, Princess Adaeze Emetu, Mrs. Otti explained that the initiative was designed to empower families to take ownership of their food security by cultivating gardens within their homes, thereby encouraging wholesome eating and self-sufficiency.

She commended Governor Alex Otti for his transformative investments in rural infrastructure and applauded the Wife of the President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for empowering Abia women through agricultural support and initiatives.

Delivering a technical advice, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Cliff Agbaeze, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Ijeoma Aguwa (PhD), emphasized the need for households to adopt climate-smart agricultural practices. He urged women to utilize organic waste for composting, conserve water through efficient irrigation methods, and plant high-yield, pest-resistant crops suitable for home gardens.

He further advised participants to view home gardening not merely as a subsistence activity but as a potential income-generating venture. According to him, with proper management, small-scale gardens can supply fresh produce to local markets, reduce household expenses, and enhance food availability within communities.

The Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr. Maureen Aghukwa, represented by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Women Affairs, Mrs. Chinenye Nwaka, described the “Every Home a Garden” initiative as a turning point for women in Abia State. She noted that by embracing home gardening, women will not only contribute to family nutrition but also reduce dependency on external food sources and enhance their economic independence.

She further encouraged women to take full advantage of the programme, stressing that beyond planting for consumption, the skills acquired could open doors to small-scale agribusiness ventures. According to her, such empowerment initiatives align with the vision of the Otti administration to build self-reliant, productive, and resilient women across all communities in the state.

In her goodwill message, the Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation, Mrs. Blessing Felix, urged women to maximize every available space around their homes for food cultivation, noting that home gardening is both empowering and sustainable.

Earlier in her remarks, the State Renewed Hope Initiative Desk Officer, Mrs. Amarachi Anyim, lauded Senator Oluremi Tinubu for her vision of transforming families through empowerment programmes and thanked Mrs. Otti for extending the benefits of the initiative to the grassroots across Abia State.

The highlight of the event was the presentation of prizes and cash awards to winners of the “Every Home a Garden” competition. The first-place winner received ₦5 million, the second-place winner ₦1 million, and the third-place winner ₦500,000.

The colourful ceremony attracted top government officials, women leaders, and beneficiaries from across the state.

Ndubueze Justice
20/10/2025