The Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Christianah Monisade
Afuye, has disclosed the readiness of Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s
administration to partner foreign and local investors to uplift the
state and make it a microcosm of development in the country .
The Deputy Governor, said Governor Oyebanji was incurably committed to
attract private investors to boost agriculture and make Ekiti the food
basket of the nation, owing to the comparative advantage the state
enjoys in the sector.
Mrs Afuye said this in Ado Ekiti, on Tuesday, while playing host to the
Special Adviser to the Canadian President on International Affairs,
Reverend Deji Babajide Kayode, who paid her a visit at her office.
Mrs Afuye, in a statement by her Special Assistant on Media, Victor
Ogunje, revealed that adequate funding to propel commercial
agriculture forms part of the cardinal programmes and policy thrust
of the present government, saying the Governor is receptive to any
partnership that will galvanise support for the sector in the state.
The foregoing assertion was sequel to the request made by Reverend
Kayode that the South Korean government was desirous of changing the
face of agriculture in the continent through a forum christened
Platform for African women in Smart Climate Agriculture (PAWICA),
urging Ekiti to key into the programme for economic uplift of its
citizens .
The Deputy Governor added that Ekiti has favourable atmospheric and
edaphic conditions as well as vast land resource to undertake
commercial farming for food production and youth employment.
She said no efforts would be spared by Governor Oyebanji’s
administration to radicalise the agriculture sector, particularly
being receptive to partnerships with private organisations and foreign
investors to rejig the sector.
“The entire world is now faced with the reality of food shortage
occasioned by climate change and other natural and man made factors.
But in Ekiti, we have a government that is ready to propel the state
to a food security status.
“Apart from being interested to catapult Ekiti to a food security
status, Governor Oyebanji is also resolute to develop the human
resources capital of our dear state, particularly the youths and
women, by deploying our strength in agriculture.
“We are always ready to embrace foreign partners that are interested
to partner our government to make Ekiti better than we met it.
“I will relay this message to Mr. Governor and I am confident that he
will be ready to key into this lofty and beneficial idea”.
Speaking earlier, Mr. Kayode, said the PAWISCA was a foundation
determined to empower women farmers in Africa continent through
provision of incentives to keep them in the vocation , saying Ekiti
stands to benefit tremendously if keyed into the global initiative.
Kayode said available statistics indicated that almost half of
subsistent farmers operating in Africa are women, expressing
confidence that they will contribute better if given the impetus to
operate in the system.
“I am an Ekiti person and half of the farmers in our continent are
women and this state is not an exemption. We can turn around the
potentials and future of our women with strong investments in farming.
“We have good potentials among our women that we can tap into to
develop agriculture and that is what PAWISCA stands for and we want
Ekiti to benefit from this initiative “.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Governor , had received an Outstanding
Leadership Award from the
Students’ Union government of the Bamidele Olumilua University of
Education, Science and Technology, Ikere Ekiti(BOUESTI).
Speaking during the award conferment held at the Deputy Governor’s
office, BOUESTI SUG President, Olakekan Tokimi, described the number
two citizen as a pride to the students of the university considering
her contributions within the short time she came into government.
“Your Excellency, we are very proud of your achievements as the number
two citizen of Ekiti State and how you have been adding values to the
government of Governor Biodun Oyebanji.
“You have demonstrated strong character by your humility, generosity
and emotional balancing, especially how you relate with the students
of BOUESTI within this time and it is in recognition of this that we
are decorating you with this award”.
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