Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila has urged Agribank to continue with targeted stakeholder engagements.
The Premier expressed these sentiments at a stakeholder meeting held recently between her office, the Minister of Finance and Agribank Board and Management.
She noted that Agribank plays a critical role in the agricultural sector as it is ‘for everyone from senior citizens, ordinary person to a child under the bridge.’
Whilst appreciating the efforts of the bank, Kuugongelwa–Amadhila called for synergy between Agribank and government institutions to ensure the activities are aligned in order to achieve the national developmental goals.
On his part, Agribank Chief Executive Officer Sakaria Nghikembua presented a brief overview on the mandate of the bank, product portfolio, farmers training and mentorship, financial status, available funding options as well as corporate social investment of the Bank.
Nghikembua highlighted some of the challenges facing the Bank and possible solutions as well as the role that it plays in the country’s land reform process.
“We have many social responsibility programs and one of them is that we are currently having four students on our bursary scheme, we also offer training and mentorship to farmers among others,” he said.
According to Nghikembua, Agribank can be the center of enabling land reform in the country and transformation of agricultural sector in general, if sufficient support is provided by the relevant stakeholders.
The meeting was held as part of Agribank’s stakeholder engagement strategy which employs multiple engagement methods including one-on-one meetings with strategic stakeholders.
