Oyo State Governor, 'Seyi Makinde, has reiterated his commitment to transforming the state into a modern agribusiness hub in Sub-Saharan Africa. Makinde stated this during the "Agribusiness for Food Security Initiative" event held at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Ibadan.
The governor said his administration's Roadmap for Accelerated Development identifies agriculture as the way to move the state from poverty to prosperity, given Oyo's comparative advantage of abundant arable land. However, he noted that the old methods of farming would not produce the desired results.
"We need an economic solution driven by data. We need an achievable strategy powered in a new way of thinking about agriculture," Makinde said. To this end, the governor established the Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency (OYSADA) to drive the new approach to agriculture in the state.
Makinde emphasized that attracting large investments in agriculture would require providing adequate infrastructure and security. He said the state has made significant progress in these areas, but more needs to be done to boost investors' confidence.
The governor lauded the IITA for providing the state with high-quality seeds that have boosted productivity. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who was the keynote speaker, said the federal government should not be directly involved in agribusiness, as the states have the resources to develop holistic strategies for food security.
Obasanjo commended the efforts of women in agribusiness and encouraged them to do more, as food security and nutrition would create more employment, boost foreign exchange, and increase internally generated revenue.
The event also featured presentations by the Executive Adviser to the Governor on Agribusiness, International Cooperation and Development, Dr. Debo Akande, who highlighted the necessity of infrastructure development in achieving agricultural transformation. Youth beneficiaries of the Oyo State Youth Entrepreneurship in Agribusiness Project (YEAP) also thanked the governor for empowering and supporting them.