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Dr. M. I. Okpara: The Architect of The Agricultural Revolution in Eastern Nigeria

Dr. Michael Okpara at the Nō 10 Downing Street, London, U.K.

Dr. Michael Iheonukara Okpara is often hailed as the architect of the agricultural revolution in Eastern Nigeria. As the Premier of Eastern Nigeria from 1959 to 1966, Dr. Okpara championed policies that significantly boosted agricultural production and modernized farming practices in the region.

 

His government focused on improving rural development by promoting large-scale farming and self-reliance in food production. Key initiatives included the establishment of farm settlements, expansion of cash crops like oil palm and rubber, and the development of agricultural cooperatives.

Under Okpara’s leadership, Eastern Nigeria became one of the most agriculturally productive regions in West Africa. He believed that agriculture was the backbone of the economy and placed great emphasis on creating a system where both the government and the people could benefit from efficient farming practices. His policies left a lasting impact on the agricultural landscape and contributed to the region’s economic growth prior to the Nigerian Civil War.

Dr. Okpara’s vision and programs for rural transformation have been widely recognized as a pioneering model for agricultural development in postcolonial Africa.

 

Source:

THE LAND HAS CHANGED
History, Society and Gender in Colonial Eastern Nigeria – Chima J. Korieh.

University of Calgary Press.

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