Mr. Emmanuel Eneh has emerged as Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) in Enugu State following a consensus election by delegates from the state’s 17 council areas.
Eneh will lead the association for the next three years. His election, along with other members of the state executive, was ratified on Thursday in Enugu.
Other elected executives include Chief Emma Okenwa as Deputy Chairman; Mr. Louis Okolo, Vice Chairman (Enugu East); Mr. Anthony Obasi, Vice Chairman (Enugu West); Mr. Boniface Eze, Vice Chairman (Enugu North); and Mr. Lazarus Orekeyi as Secretary, among others.
AFAN Deputy National President and leader of the Enugu Election Monitoring Team, Chief Daniel Okafor, commended the Enugu State Government for supporting farmers and described AFAN as a strategic body capable of influencing government policies on national development and food security.
Okafor urged contestants to accept the election outcome in good faith, emphasizing unity and exemplary leadership based on peace and teamwork.
Outgoing state chairman Mr. Romanus Eze said the election marked a milestone after a seven-year hiatus caused by internal national-level challenges, which have now been resolved. He assured members that the association is now united and focused on action.
State Commissioner for Agriculture and Agro-Industrialisation, Dr. Patrick Ubru, tasked the new leadership to mobilize farmers, develop a comprehensive database, and strengthen agricultural planning. Represented by Deputy Director Mr. Theophilus Ivo, he emphasized proper farmer registration to improve access to government interventions.
Enugu State Coordinator of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs. Ngozi Nwakaeze, urged farmers to open accounts with the Bank of Agriculture to benefit from federal programs, stressing the importance of registration and financial inclusion.
In his acceptance speech, Eneh thanked delegates for their confidence and pledged to reposition AFAN for greater productivity, with training programs to improve access to modern inputs and boost agricultural output. He also pledged support for Gov. Peter Mbah’s administration, highlighting the benefits of collaboration with government.
The event concluded with the presentation of certificates to the newly elected officials.
