I 'll Bring Back Ekiti's Old Glory in Agriculture, Education, Oyebanji Vows.

I 'll Bring Back Ekiti's Old Glory in Agriculture, Education, Oyebanji Vows.

The Ekiti state Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, has expressed his unwavering determination to devise means to reignite the state's old glory in agriculture and education that earned it being classified as the Food Basket of the Southwest and Fountain of Knowledge. 

Oyebanji described farming, skill acquisition, small and medium scale enterprises, as well as education, as magic wands being deployed by government to collaborate, network and open a vista of opportunities for the people at the grassroots for businesses to grow exponentially.

Oyebanji stated this at the official opening of the 2024 Trade Fair marking the fourth of its kind, held in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State Capital, on Wednesday. 

The 2024 trade fair holding at the Trade Fair Complex in Ado Ekiti attracted many investors, farmers, artisans, manufacturers, captains of industries and entrepreneurs to showcase their products to the world, with many of products being sold at discounted prices compared to the general market.

The governor, represented by the Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, observed that Ekiti made remarkable headways in farming and education in time past, promising to overhaul the sectors to restore the lost glory through huge investment in these thematic areas of the economy.  

The State Chief Executive assured that his administration would continue to engage captains of industries locally and internationally to make Ekiti the first destination of choice in investment to diversify the economy away from the monolithic civil service structure. 

He said: "These we are going achieve by providing enabling environment that supports entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship in order to take Ekiti to new heights in terms of viable economy among the comity of states in Nigeria and Africa as whole.

"Partnering critical stakeholders was  part of measures to redefine Ekiti economy through partnership, innovation and collaboration with necessary stakeholders in industry, commerce and agriculture.

"In actual fact, this was part of my administration's commitment to boost the state economy and achieve the mantra of my government, which is shared Prosperity for all the citizens".

Lending credence to Oyebanji's position, the Commissioner for Trade, Industry, Investment and Cooperative, Mrs Tayo Adeola,

said the programme was designed to bring about economy growth by attracting investors and showcase Ekiti to the whole world with a promise that the trade fair would now be holding on annual basis.

Cataloguing some of the government plans and policies to bring dividend of democracy to the grassroots, Adeola advised the market women, farmers, youths and other interest groups to take advantage of government's soft loans provided to assist the teeming  populace and relief many of heavy interest on loans in various commercial banks and  address the problem of collateral which often debar many from expanding their businesses.

She pointed out that measures were in place to attract more investors,  modernize locally made products such as locust beans popularly called " iru",  Honey, Gaari and other local delicacies so that people would come to Ekiti and buy goods. 

The Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly,  Hon Adeiye Aribasoye represented by Mr. Tope Longe, promised the continued support of the Lawmakers to the current Executives by making laws that would create enabling environment for  businesses and build a multi system economy that would  advance Ekiti and open the state for more investors.

The Speaker also enjoined farmers, especially youths in  entrepreneurship to maximize the opportunities of the policies and programmes of Governor Oyebanji  to make poverty a history in Ekiti. 

In his message, the Chairman, Council of Traditional Rulers, Oba Ilori Ayorinde Faboro challenged  the Ekiti state government to attract more manufacturers to the state in order to place Ekiti in the map of developed state in Nigeria.

The traditional Ruler said that products like  Marbles, and other building materials could be manufacture in the state so that other people would come to buy from the state.

The Chairman,  Planning Committee, 2024 Trade Fair, Dr Abimbola Oni, who said that the trade fair would henceforth hold on annually to grow industry and bring about economic development with the aim to attract more investors, said that all the farm produces and stable foods would be sold at a very reduced rate during the fair.

Other stakeholders at the Forum including the President Ekiti Chambers of Commerce, Alhaji Olufemi Hassan,  President, National Association of the Chamber of Commerce, Yahaya Oladiran assured government of  their continue support to promote its interest to achieve meaningful economy and provide enabling environment to advance the nation's economy.