According to him, “The concept of the pillar signifies strength, stability, structure and sustainability. However, these pillars must be more than an attractive concept or organisational slogan.
“Each must represent a clear development objective, a practical implementation strategy and measurable results.”
The royal father urged the foundation to establish clear implementation plans for each of the 21 pillars, prioritising agricultural advancement, food security, youth involvement in agribusiness, women’s economic empowerment and poverty reduction.
He listed support for small-scale farmers, community food banks, humanitarian food supplies, food processing and preservation facilities, agricultural funding, cooperative societies and improved market access as key areas that should receive attention.
Other areas he identified included vocational training, professional capacity building, employment generation, environmentally sustainable farming, modern agricultural technology and community-based economic empowerment.
He noted that Benue State could achieve greater economic growth if its vast agricultural resources were supported with adequate investment, improved farming methods and opportunities for farmers to process their produce and increase its value.
“Our land must not merely remain a symbol of agricultural potential; it must become an instrument of economic prosperity for our people,” he declared.
On the contribution of traditional institutions to the initiative, the monarch described traditional rulers as important stakeholders in grassroots development because of their familiarity with local communities, cultural practices, land matters and the everyday challenges confronting their people.
He encouraged the foundation to build stronger working relationships with traditional rulers and community leaders across Benue State and other parts of the country to facilitate the mobilisation of residents and effective implementation of its programmes.
According to him, traditional institutions could play significant roles in motivating youths to see agriculture as a viable business, encouraging farmers to adopt modern techniques, strengthening cooperative groups and creating better opportunities for processing and marketing agricultural produce.
The Och’Idoma also advocated partnerships with federal, state and local governments, financial institutions, agricultural professionals, private sector investors, and local and international development organisations.
He cautioned the foundation against operating with the belief that its members had all the expertise needed to achieve the initiative’s objectives, urging them to welcome constructive advice and contributions from individuals with different experiences.
He stressed that meaningful ideas could emerge from people who might otherwise be overlooked, adding that consultation and willingness to learn were necessary for the organisation’s growth and success.
The traditional ruler further urged the leadership and members to make transparency, accountability and integrity guiding principles, especially in handling the foundation’s financial resources.
He warned that poor financial management and a lack of openness could damage an organisation’s credibility and discourage public support as well as assistance from development partners.
Speaking at the occasion, the National Group Vice-President of the association, Comrade David Ida, explained that the 21-pillar framework was established to tackle hunger and nutritional deficiencies through coordinated interventions covering food production, processing, distribution and community-based support.
Ida, who also doubles as the National Contact and Mobilisation Officer, said the foundation’s responsibility extended beyond supplying food to people in need, noting that access to sufficient, safe and nutritionally balanced meals was equally important in addressing malnutrition.
He disclosed that the organisation planned to engage directly in agricultural production while putting measures in place to guarantee the quality and safety of food supplied to the public.
He added that food items would be subjected to laboratory examinations and appropriate medical certification before being cleared for consumption.