KEYNOTE SPEECH BY THE HONOURABLE COMMISSIONER FOR AGRICULTURE, ABIA STATE : ON THE OCCASION OF THE OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF THE ABIA STATE AGRICULTURE DYNAMIC DATABASE SYSTEM (ABIA ADDS), DECEMBER 11TH, 2025, AT THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE CENTER, UMUAHIA
Protocols…
It is with profound honour and gratitude that I welcome you to this historic occasion, the public launch of the Abia State Agriculture Dynamic Database System (Abia ADDS).
Today is not just another day in the calendar of Abia State. Today’s event is not just the unveiling of a technological platform; it is a defining moment – a turning point. A moment when we boldly choose data over guesswork, innovation over stagnation, and transformation over tradition. Today, we launch the Abia State Agriculture Dynamic Database System, “Abia ADDS” and with it, we usher in an era where our decisions will be guided by truth, accuracy and intelligence, not assumptions.
Why “Abia ADDS”
For decades, our farmers have worked tirelessly, yet they have been largely invisible in the system, unknown, uncounted, unaccounted for and unrecognized. But how do you support those you cannot see? How do you plan for communities you cannot identify? How do you solve problems you have not measured? If Abia State must rise to feed itself and contribute meaningfully to national and global markets, then we must start with understanding our farmers, our lands, our opportunities, our strengths and our constraints.
The Journey
This project is anchored on the vision of His Excellency, Dr Alex Chioma Otti, OFR and fully to establish a sustainable, competitive and resilient agriculture sector that will boost food production, create job opportunities and contribute to Abia’s economic growth. The project was not conceived lightly. It is the result of deliberate commitment, consultation, and collaboration. Over the past months, we have traversed all 184 wards of Abia State. We have documented tens of thousands of farmers, their names, their crops, their challenges, and their aspirations. We have mapped thousands of hectares with geotagged accuracy. We have validated identities, mapped farm boundaries, captured yields, and documented markets. And we have listened, truly listened to the heartbeat of Abia’s agricultural communities.
The work was not without challenges. Some communities required multiple engagements. Some farmers were initially hesitant. But with patience, humility, and collaboration from leaders at all levels, we have delivered. And today, we stand on the threshold of something extraordinary.
The Vision: A Smart, Modern, Data-Driven Agriculture Ecosystem
The Abia ADDS platform is more than a database. It is a powerful engine of transformation. With it we can now know every real farmer in Abia State; Plan targeted, efficient, and equitable interventions; Distribute inputs fairly and transparently; Conduct soil testing through remote-sensing technology, Know the soil composition of each farmland and determine the right fertilizer blend for it; Help farmers take out the guess work from their farming practices; Support farmer cooperatives with proper records; Attract investors who require credible data. This is how we move from subsistence to agribusiness, from scattered efforts to organized value chains, and from isolated farmers to a connected, empowered agriculture ecosystem.
The Immediate and Future Benefits
For farmers, Abia ADDS creates visibility, access, and opportunity:
Faster access to support packages.
Transparent input distribution.
Eligibility for subsidies, grants, and mechanization.
Personalized advisory and improved extension services.
Better market linkages.
For the State, Abia ADDS delivers strategic intelligence:
Evidence-based planning.
Clear investment opportunity mapping.
Easy-to-use agric map of the state to determine where the comparative advantages lie;
Crop zoning and land-use intelligence.
Better climate adaptation and risk mitigation.
Stronger food security and export readiness.
For partners and investors, Abia ADDS positions Abia as credible, structured, and investment-ready.
The Platform – A Window into Abia’s Agricultural Future
Today, you will see The Dynamic Agriculture Map with land use visualized in real time. Farmers’ profiles and production data. Digitized cooperative records. Dashboards and analytics for rapid decisions. This marks the beginning of a statewide agricultural intelligence system.
The Abia ADDS platform, is a true single source of truth for agriculture in Abia State that has the potential to create jobs for young people through MSME- led extension services. The platform will support smart extension services, mechanization planning, supply chain traceability, climate modeling, and even credit scoring in the future.
Acknowledgements
This work has been made possible through the leadership and vision of His Excellency, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, OFR, The Governor of Abia State. His commitment to transparency and innovation is the bedrock of this achievement. I want to also appreciate Chief Information Officer, The Principal Secretary and Chief Strategy Officer of Abia State Government, The LGA Chairmen and Ward councilors, traditional rulers, of course, our farmers, the Permanent Secretary, Directors and the entire Ministry of Agriculture team and our Field Coordinators and Enumerators. Finally, I want to acknowledge our technical partners, Kitovu Technology Company for their innovation and commitment. Indeed, the team represents a shining example of what we can achieve with our youths. This is a shared victory.
The Call to Action: Phase 2 And Beyond
We are not done. Today is only the beginning. Phase 2 begins now, with deeper enumeration, expanded mapping, richer datasets, and continuous integration of farmer activities. But for us to succeed, Farmers must embrace the system. Leaders must mobilize their communities. Cooperatives must organize their members. Partners must join hands with us. Every stakeholder here must become an ambassador of this transformation.
This is another first from Abia and by Abians! The Federal Government recently announced a “flag-off” of what we are already unveiling today – all thanks to a visionary leader – Chioma Ndi-Abia! Indeed, Abia is truly becoming the number 1 not just in alphabetical order. We did it in the quality of our roads, in healthcare, and now in Agriculture. Abia must not be left behind. Not when we have the tools, the talent, and the vision to lead.
Conclusion: A New Dawn
Today, we celebrate more than a platform. We celebrate the emergence of a new Abia, one that knows its farmers, understands its land, and plans with intelligence. An Abia where agriculture becomes a true engine of prosperity. An Abia ready for food security, for innovation, and for global competitiveness. The journey has begun. This is the new Abia. And there is no turning back.
Thank you, and may God bless us all.