Nigerians in Diaspora Chamber of Commerce (NiDCC), on Wednesday, mourned former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Audu Ogbeh, who died on Saturday at the age of 78.
The chamber in a statement by its President, Patience Key, on Wednesday in Abuja, pledged to honour Ogbeh’s legacy.
Key expressing the association’s heartfelt condolences to the deceased’s family, the people of Benue, and Nigerians, described Ogbeh’s death as a profound loss to the nation.
She also described Ogbeh as a principled statesman and an unwavering advocate for Nigeria’s agricultural renaissance.
Key said that Ogbeh championed a strategic shift that treated agriculture as a growth industry, driving policy coherence, market confidence, and farmer-focused reforms.
According to her, Ogbeh’s leadership helped refocus national attention on food security, rural livelihoods, and agro-industrial value chains.
“He championed policies that encouraged local production, strengthened smallholder resilience, and attracted private investment into processing, storage, and market access, laying foundations that continue to support jobs, stabilise prices, and catalyse enterprise across the country.
“From promoting backward integration and import substitution to urging improved extension services, mechanisation, input availability, and youth participation, Chief Ogbeh consistently argued that a strong agricultural base is essential to Nigeria’s economic sovereignty.
“His voice, firm, thoughtful, and patriotic elevated agriculture from a subsistence conversation to a strategic growth agenda,’’ she said.
Key added that Ogbeh’s era also saw pivotal input-market reforms, including the 2016 Presidential Fertilizer Initiative (PFI).
This, according to her, revived moribund blending plants and expanded affordable access to quality fertilizer for smallholders laying foundations for increased productivity.
She said: “Ogbeh understood that food security is economic security.”
“He pushed for practical solutions, stronger value chains, affordable inputs, and export ambition, so farmers can earn more, industries can invest with confidence, and Nigerians can rely on a more resilient food system.
“The diaspora business community salutes his vision and service.”
“For us in the diaspora business community, his legacy is a call to deepen investment in agribusiness, logistics, technology, and finance that connect farmers to markets at home and abroad.
“We honour his service by accelerating the inclusive, sustainable transformation he envisioned.
“NiDCC will honour Chief Ogbeh’s legacy by mobilising diaspora capital and expertise into agribusiness processing, storage and cold-chain logistics, input manufacturing, extension technology, and export standards,’’ she said.
This according to her, are the very levels Ogbeh consistently championed for an inclusive and self-reliant agricultural economy.
Key prayed to God to grant Ogbeh’s family comfort and strength to bear the loss.
she also prayed for Ogbeh’s enduring contributions to continue to inspire leaders, policy-makers, and entrepreneurs to build a self-reliant, food-secure Nigeria. (NAN)