Ekiti First Lady Dr Oyebanji at her Garden
Barely one month after planting vegetables in her garden in the Government House to encourage domestic production of edible items, Ekiti State First Lady, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji, has harvested the first set of vegetables she cultivated herself.
Dr. Oyebanji used the opportunity of the harvest to call on Ekiti women to embrace the agricultural practice of cultivating a vegetable garden at their different homes to cushion the effect of economic hardship.
Speaking while harvesting her vegetables, the Governor’s wife urged women in the state to emulate her example by planting simple food items within the vicinity of their homes to complement their husbands and help reduce their costs in the market.
Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji expressed her gratitude for the rapid germination of the vegetables noting that she has laid an example for other women in Ekiti to emulate.
“I am overwhelmed to see my garden I planted about one month ago growing so fast and rapidly, I’m sure this would serve as example for other Ekiti women to emulate. Let us plant vegetables, okro, pepper and other petty crops we need as women so that we can give our husbands and children fresh food,” she said.
Dr. Oyebanji noted that the idea of “One Home One Garden” was an initiative of the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who has mandated all state first ladies in Nigeria to begin the initiative in their respective states.
“The primary aim of the initiative was to reduce hunger in our state and this initiative didn’t exempt our men too. When we have food and vegetables in abundance, the prices of these commodities will naturally be reduced in the market,” Dr. Oyebanji echoed.
Dr. Oyebanji assured Ekiti women in particular that vegetable seedlings would be made available for interested women who might want to have gardens at their different homes.
She said Nigeria first lady has promised to reward the best vegetable garden cultivated in Nigeria and same thing will be domesticated in Ekiti after the assessment of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in Ekiti State, saying this will encourage women in no small measure.
The First Lady, who was accompanied by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Ebenezer Boluwade, Commissioner for Budget, Economic Planning and Performance Management, Mr. Oyeniyi Adebayo and other top government functionaries, appreciated the ministry and the team that has supported her in achieving the growth of her organic vegetable and promised to harvest other farm produce in the garden in no distant time.