…As Makinde vows making Oyo modern agribusiness hub in Sub-Saharan Africa
By Adeyinka Adeniran
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said states and not the federal government should be more involved in agribusiness if anything impactful must be achieved.
This is as Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State said he remains committed to making the state a modern agribusiness hub in Sub-Saharan Africa, just as he promised to give more support to farmers and improve infrastructure and security with a view to attracting large investments in agriculture to the state.
Both Obasanjo and Makinde spoke on Monday in their separate remarks at an event themed, “Agribusiness for Food Security Initiative”, held at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, (IITA), Ibadan.
Delivering his key note address, Ex-President Obasanjo, who is also an Honorary Ambassador of IITA, said agribusiness would play a vital role in the future of the country.
He said the State governments have more to do in the areas of agribusiness than the Federal government since the states have the landmass, resources, manpower, innovations and the infrastructure to develop holistic strategies for food security.
He commended efforts of women in agribusiness and also encouraged them to do more as food security and food nutrition would go a long way in providing more employment, boost the foreign exchange and increase in internally generated revenue.
Makinde while offering the opening remarks at the event noted that his government remained resolute on bringing prosperity to the state and would continue to support youths.
He said in his Roadmap for Accelerated Development, he had thought of how to take the people from poverty to prosperity, noting that given the state’s comparative advantage of arable land, it was clear that embracing agriculture was the way to go, but it was also obvious that using the old method of farming would not produce the desired result.
He noted that, for Oyo State to become a modern agribusiness hub in Sub-Saharan Africa would require the attraction of large investments in agriculture, adding that to attract the kind of investments needed by the state; it would need to provide adequate infrastructure and security.
He said though the state under his watch had done so well with the provision of infrastructure and security, it would still do more to buoy investors’ confidence.
Talking about the Fasola Industrial Hub, the governor said developing it had provided the state a learning opportunity that would come handy as the state embarks on building Eruwa and Akufo industrial hubs.
He lauded the IITA for helping the state with high quality seeds which are propelling increased productivity in the state.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Africa Continental Director CGIAR/ Director General IITA, Dr Simeon Ehui, said the forum was aimed at addressing pressing issues on food security and to drive positive changes by leveraging major stakeholders to ensure a sustainable future for the present and next generation.
He added that collaboration, innovation and shared commitment are crucial to achieving food security, stressing that agribusiness development is necessary in the whole of Africa.
In his presentation, the Executive Adviser to the Governor on Agribusiness, International Cooperation and Development, Dr Debo Akande, underscore the necessity of infrastructure development in achieving food security, saying there could not be agricultural transformation without rural infrastructural transformation.
Some beneficiaries of Oyo State Youth Entrepreneurship in Agribusiness Project (YEAP), Ibukunoluwa Tubi and Dolapo Opekun, lauded the initiative which has brought hope to youths. They also thanked Governor Makinde for empowering and supporting youths.
