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Olugbemi. Adeyinka Ogunleye
1 month ago
Overview
Ooni Endorses Agbeyewa Farms: Urges Monarchs To Release Lands For Genuine Investment
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi has appealed to his colleagues monarchs to support the ongoing efforts to tackle the twin menace of hunger and youth unemployment in Nigeria by releasing communities lands for genuine investors. The Arole Oodua gave this admonition during a tour of the facilities at the multi billion Naira Agbeyewa Farms in Itapaji-Ekiti. Led by the promoters of the farms and Chairman, Cavista, (Owners of Agbeyewa Farms), Mr. John Olajide and accompanied by the traditional rulers of the host communities , Oba Ogunwusi expressed delight on the commitment and huge investment. Oba Ogunwusi who spent close six hours on farm said Ekiti would soon become the Agribusiness hub of the nation.
Among the entourage of the Ooni were Oba Sir Olufemi Aribisala, the Alaaye of Oke Ayedun Ekiti; Oba Kareem Azeez Adebanjo, the Olu of Itapaji and Oba Williams Oluseyi Ehinmodupin, the Obanla of Ipao Ekiti. Also in the Ooni team was a corporate affairs player and former Senatorial aspirant Dr Funso Ayeni. Addressing the workers and top officials of the farms which covered over 5000 hectares of lands ,Oba Ogunwusi described Mr Olajide as an “enigma and reformer". The foremost monarch in Yorubaland therefore advocated utmost support and cooperation towards the success and sustenance of the huge investment. Describing the initiative as a long term investment ,Oba Ogunwusi said Ekiti State and indeed Nigeria should be proud of the project. Ooni therefore called on traditional rulers always prepared to support any intervention that would create employment for the youths and curb poverty and hunger in the land. He warned that the frightening unemployment figure among Nigerian youths call for concern by the stakeholders, particularly the Palace.
According to Ooni, the youth are the strength and protectors of the palace, warning that they could also be a threat to the palace if they are not properly managed or gainfully employed. ”Today is one of my happiest days in life .Honestly speaking, I am impressed with what I have seen here today. I must say that this is the biggest Cassava farms in Nigeria.I have not seen a place where Cassava is cultivated on a large scale and on over 5000 hectares of land .I have been to different parts of this country and I have not seen any farm compared to this. ”The promoters need to be adored. I urged you to always pray and support this investment. Let me say here that anyone frustrating this efforts should be considered as the real enemy of the State. Don’t make the investors regret doing business in Ekiti.
He also described the project as a practical response to the nation’s current challenge of hunger and unemployment.” This is not the time to be holding stakeholders meeting or Summit on Agriculture. Let’s work the talk now, we have been talking since 1960 and we have achieved nothing ” Ooni said. The Ekiti monarchs who took part in the historic facilities tour thanked Ooni for creating time from his tight schedule to visit Ekiti. The Obas said Ooni had demonstrated unique leadership skills since he ascended the throne of his forebears. The traditional rulers therefore prayed that God should give the Ooni long life and good health to be able to lead the Yoruba nation well. Speaking during the tour of the farm on the future goal for the agricultural initiative, the Executive Director of Agbeyewa Farms Limited, Mr Oscar Seyi Ayeleso said the farm would establish the best agro-allied cassava processing plant in the whole of Africa. “And I will tell you that where you are seeing today, where you are today will soon become a cassava farming estate. We are growing 10,000 hectare and we have our agro-allied company here. We will be processing so many varieties. “In fact, we are even going into some table food. We are going to produce semovita, noodles, we are going into spaghetti, all those chips, cake, and everything, and we are going to all of them.
