Nigeria’s Unity Bank Plc: Pledged to subsidize 120,000 Maize Agriculturalist

By Abdul Rahman Bangura–

NEW AFRICA DAILY NEWS (NADN) Freetown, Sierra Leone- Unity Bank Plc has promised to provide additional funding to about 120,000 smallholder maize farmers in the 2021 wet season farming in the country.

Mrs. Tomi Somefun – The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Unity Bank Plc published a goodwill statement at the unveiling of the first National Maize Pyramids and flag-off of wet season farming programmes held over the weekend in Katsina.

Exemplified by the Head of Agribusiness, Unity Bank Plc, Mrs. Patricia Chinwe Ahunanya, Somefun asserted the extra funding for 2021 wet season husbandry is in tandem with to the bank’s obligation towards supporting maize farmers in the country. She expressed that, the strategic alliance with the Maize Association of Nigeria begun in 2019 with the financing of about 37,182 smallholder farmers, with the bank boosting its financing tally to 70,604
smallholder farmers in 2020.

Speaking on the maize pyramid, Somefun noted that “the maize pyramids will go down in history as the first maize pyramid in Nigeria which demonstrates not only the resilience of our farmers but also the commendable vision of the Federal Government of Nigeria through the implementing partners. This should be replicated in all states with a focus on the crops that have comparative advantage.”

“Unity Bank is fully committed to its partnership with MAAN and this commitment will ensure the attainment of FGN/CBN target to meeting self-sufficiency in maize production through the association,” she ensured.

The national president of MAAN – Dr. Abubakar Bello, applauded Unity Bank for its ceaseless assistance to the growers through its strategic role in delivering the vital financing to the maize farmers.

“We cannot appreciate enough our financing partners, especially Unity Bank. Today we have over 50,000 bags of maize in this pyramid, which will contribute significantly to Nigeria’s strategic grain reserves. This could not have been possible without the financing made possible by these partners. We commend them for this role and remain grateful,” he said.

For New Africa Daily News Abdul Rahman Bangura Reports,  Africa Correspondent

www.newafricadailynews.com