Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, has emphasized that agriculture remains the most sustainable pathway to solving Nigeria’s economic challenges of unemployment, food insecurity, and poverty.
This, according to the Governor, accounts for his administration’s deliberate policy of using agriculture as a tool to banish poverty, create employment opportunities, and ensure food security in Ekiti State.
Governor Oyebanji stated these on Thursday while receiving the Consul General of Netherlands, Michel Deelen and his team in his office in Ado Ekiti. The Governor said agriculture remains a core priority of his government, not just as a means of ensuring food sufficiency but also a tool for wealth creation and youth empowerment.
The Governor explained that since inception of his administration, deliberate efforts have been made to reposition the agricultural sector through youth focused programes and modern farming initiatives.
He noted that through the State’s “Bring Back Youth Into Agriculture”, over 5,000 young people have been engaged in various aspect of agribusiness.
While commending the Netherlands for its global leadership and expertise in agriculture, the Governor expressed the state’s readiness to collaborate with the European nation to enhance productivity, expressing that suich partnership would further accelerate the state’s agricultural revolution and contribute meaningfully to the state’s overall economic growth.
“I believe strongly that for a people or a country to develop, especially in Nigeria, giving God’s given resources, lands and human capital, that if we get agric rights, we will solve at least 60 percent of our problem. We will solve the problem of food insecurity, unemployment, poverty, we will solve problem of insecurity itself.
“So when we came into office, I was deliberate about our intervention in the agric sector and we are one of the few states, I can beat my chest and tell you that within two years, we pulled off the streets 5,000 youths to agric and you can verify this”. The Governor asserted.
Earlier in his remarks, the Consul General of Netherlands, Mr Michel Deelen, who espressed his admiration for the remarkable development stride of the state government, particularly in the agriculture sector, said he was impressed with how the state has transformed agriculture into a major driver of economic growth and youth empowerment, noting that the ongoing agriculture revolution has positioned the state as one of the most promising states in Nigeria.
While expressing the readiness of Netherlands government to partner with the state in critical areas such as agricultural technology, irrigation, capacity building and value chain development, the Consul General noted that Netherlands , being a world leader in modern agriculture, would be glad to collaborate with Ekiti State government in knowledge exchange, investment promotion and introduction of innovative farming systems that can further strengthen the state’s agriculture base.
Also at the meeting were, the Chief of Staff, Mr Niyi Adebayo, Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Ebenezer Boluwade and the Special Adviser Media, Mr Yinka Oyebode.