Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, has reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to ensuring food security for residents through partnerships with investors in agribusiness and support for young farmers.
His target for 2025 is to significantly boost agricultural production to adequately feed the people of the state.
Governor Oyebanji made this commitment during an inspection of the “Bring Youth Back into Agriculture” project farms in Oke Ako Ekiti, Iyemero Ekiti, and Gede, located in the North Senatorial District, on Saturday.
Accompanied by senior government officials, the Governor revealed that the 2025 state budget would prioritize agriculture, focusing on food sufficiency and positioning Ekiti as Nigeria’s food basket.
He noted that his administration’s strategic investment in agriculture has already begun to yield positive results, with emphasis placed over the last two years on boosting farmers’ capacities and creating markets for their produce as part of broader efforts to combat food insecurity.
Expressing his gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for supporting the state’s agricultural and other developmental sectors, Oyebanji pledged that his government would continue to create economic opportunities for the youth and position them to become employers of labour.
The Governor highlighted improvements in the state’s agricultural policies and infrastructure, which have been designed to drive its agricultural development plans.
He also announced his administration’s intention to scale up food production, aiming for self-reliance in the state.
In addition to agriculture and food security, Oyebanji stated that the 2025 budget would prioritize citizens’ welfare.
He emphasized that his government, after focusing on infrastructure over the past two years, now plans to de-risk the agricultural value chain by enhancing security, providing electricity, and rehabilitating roads leading to farms.
“I’m extremely excited about the outcome of our agricultural strategy. A few months ago, we launched the ‘Bring Youth Back into Agriculture’ program, and I strongly believe that the key to prosperity is productivity. To bring our youths back to work, the government must provide the platforms for them,” the Governor stated.
He explained that the government had partnered with YSJ, a private agricultural company, and local stakeholders to devise a strategy to engage the youth in agriculture.
The government cleared land for them free of charge and subsidized inputs by fifty per cent. “I’m touring these farms today to see the results of these efforts, and I’m pleased with the outcome,” he said.
Governor Oyebanji underscored that Ekiti youths are hardworking and productive, contrary to popular belief.
“They are not lazy; they just need the right platform. I’ve always maintained that Ekiti can compete with any state in the federation, and as a government, we must provide the space for people to showcase their potential.”
Looking ahead to the next year, the Governor affirmed that the budget would prioritize welfare and agriculture, saying the government has invested heavily in infrastructure, education, and health.
He added that it is time to feed the people as his target for 2025 is to grow enough food to sustain the Ekiti people.
At Oke Ako Ekiti, the Governor commended the youth for their dedication and assured the community that the road from Ayedun to Oke Ako would soon be rehabilitated, promising to provide electricity to the town shortly.
During a visit to the palace of the Regent of Oke Ako, Governor Oyebanji assured that compensation for those whose farms had been acquired following the completion of enumeration would be paid within two weeks.
He urged the community to cooperate with the investors and the youths engaged in farming in the area, clarifying that no individual had received money on behalf of the community.
The Governor also praised the people of Iyemero Ekiti and Gede for their support of the agricultural projects and pledged to prioritize road infrastructure in the area to facilitate the movement of farm produce.
“Despite this year’s rainfall shortage, you remain resilient,” Oyebanji said, adding that the state government would provide irrigation systems, raincoats, boots, and vehicles for ease of access to the farms. “The support I’m giving you is thanks to President Bola Tinubu. The state alone doesn’t have the resources. I approached him, and he backed us with resources for agriculture. From that support, we’ll provide buses for each group,” the Governor explained.
Earlier, the youths at the farm sites had laid out their requests to the government, including the provision of buses for farm access, free agricultural inputs, loans, accommodation at farmsteads, and road rehabilitation.
