In recognition of her stride in Micro- Financing, Delta State has been bestowed with an award by the Central Bank Of Nigeria ( CBN) after being adjudged as Number One in the fight against poverty in Nigeria.

In a citation during the CBN's 3rd Annual Micro-Finance Conference and Entrepreneurship Award held in Abuja, the apex bank acknowledged that Delta State has committed over N750 Million into its Micro-Credit Scheme and infact surpassed other States in the alleviation of poverty.

Receiving the award at a well attended ceremony that held at the Abuja Sheraton and Towers, Gov. Emmanuel Uduaghan said the award will propel the State to do more in the agricultural sector. Governor Uduaghan used the occasion to reiterate that Delta State is not just about Oil but is indeed endowed with vast Agricultural potentials, which are been tapped for maximum economic benefits.

He assured that even with the prevailing economic crisis, the state would continue to rise because " emphasis will be given to agriculture." As the governor aptly noted " Agriculture depends on you and l. Agriculture does not depend on OPEC, it does not depend on SHELL, neither does it depend on CHEVRON."

He envisioned that the Agricultural sector in the state will employ over two Million people and went on to say that the state Micro- Credit Programme, which has been hugely augmented by a separate N1.2 billion Micro-Credit disbursement by the Delta State Oil Producing Area Development Commission ( DESOPADEC), has helped in ensuring Peace and Security in the State.

Governor Uduaghan who also inspected stands put up by the State Micro-Credit Programme later made presentations of items produced by beneficiaries of the scheme to some dignitaries.

They include President Umaru Musa Yar'adua ( who was represented by Vice President Good luck Jonathan and was also given a personal presentation) and the Governor of the Central Bank Professor Charles Soludo.

Earlier while declaring the Conference and Award ceremony open, Vice President Good luck Jonathan said the theme of the conference, " Commercial Micro- Finance as a Tool for Poverty Alleviation", was timely and will focus attention on various ways of eradicating poverty.

Governor Uduaghan was accompanied by the Secretary to the State Government Dr. lfeanyi Okowa and his Executive Assistant on Micro- Credit Dr. Antonia Ashiedu among other Officials.