Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has said that the state cannot move forward economically without agriculture, which, he said, has the capacity to provide enough food, job opportunities and reduce crime.

Ikpeazu added that to actualise his administration's resolve to make Abia the food basket of the nation, the state government would partner the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU)  in agriculture, especially in the area of provision of improved seedlings and adoption of new technology for food storage and processing.

The governor made this known when he received the Governing Council of MOUAU at the Government House, Umuahia.

He stressed that the university has a lot to offer the state, in terms of quality and improved seedlings which he said was key to modern agriculture.

He said that his administration was looking forward to empowering Abia youths through agriculture, skills and other fields of human endeavour, pointing out that agriculture has gone beyond talking about food production but help in crime reduction.

The governor told his guests that he would ensure that speculators or trespassers do not tamper with the 600 hectares of land belonging to the school to enable it to perform optimally.

Earlier, leader of the team and the Pro-chancellor of the institution, Prof. Anya O. Anya, said they Governing Council came to congratulate the Governor on his election and pledged the commitment of the school to work with his administration.

Also, the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof Hillary Edeoga, expressed the willingness of the university to partner with the administration of Ikpeazu in moving the state forward.