Ekiti Takes Steps to tackle Post Harvest losses among farmers.

Ekiti Takes Steps to tackle Post Harvest losses among farmers.

....as  Agro Trading  and Aggregation Company established by Govt Commences Operation in Ekiti State.

As part of efforts of the  Administration of  Governor Biodun Oyebanji to reduce post harvest losses  among farmers and prevent the negative activities of middlemen  purchasing  farm produce and commodities from formers at rock  bottom prices only to  hoard and resell them later at exorbitant prices,  the  Ekiti State Government has setup  the  agricultural outfit named Ilu Eye Agro Trading and Aggregation Company.

A statement by the State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security,Mr Ebenezer Boluwade made available  to newsmen in Ado-Ekiti said the  company would be responsible for the buyback of some selected agricultural commodities like rice paddy, beans, maize, garri and palm oil from the farmsteads across the state. 

He said the initiative is a testament to the government’s dedication to create food security and a sustainable food system in the state and designed to  consolidate the giant steps of the State Government at the upstream and midstream stages of the agricultural value chain would 

Boluwade disclosed that the  company's  social and commercial responsibilities are to make food available at the special food markets that will be soon created in the state stressing that this will help the state to bend the food inflation curve.

He stated  that the State Government had  invested in the renovation and construction of huge, spacious warehouses and other necessary storage solutions that will guarantee the safe and secured food storage practices.

The commissioner noted that the overall objective of this outfit will be achieved when it is finally transformed to Commodity Exchange Company that will ensure the formation of fair, transparent and real prices in accordance with the interests of the consumer by partially compensating for the price differences in terms of location and time of agricultural products, which are extremely common in production and consumption.

He stressed that the  Commodity Exchange creation ensures a seamless access to markets and finance opportunities to farmers and as it being presently practiced in Ethiopia and other East Africa countries where farmers easily get production finance while pledging the future produce as collateral.

Boluwade disclosed that talks are in advanced stage with local and international partners to layer the initiative with digitization solutions like blockchain technology which  has the potential to change and transform the commodity trading industry by providing a secure, transparent, and efficient platform for trade settlement and supply chain management. This will ensure traceability of the products to confirm if all phyto-sanitary protocols are observed along the value chain. 

He said  the company requests all farmers groups, associations, cooperatives, and individuals to reach out to the company through the phone number stated on the flyer.

Atayero of Aramoko Empowers Widows in Grand Style.

Atayero of Aramoko Empowers Widows in Grand Style.

Aramoko Ekiti was aglow with celebration on January 2, 2025, as the Atayero of Aramoko Ekiti, HRH Dr. Amb. Olusegun Aderemi JP, MCArb, and his wife, Olori Adenike Aderemi, hosted the 16th edition of their annual empowerment program at the Atayero’s Palace.

HRH. DR. AMB. Olusegun Aderemi JP. MCArb.

The initiative, which has become a tradition in Aramoko, focused on supporting elderly widows with financial aid to alleviate their economic challenges and provide a sense of stability. Beneficiaries received cash gifts in an atmosphere filled with joy and gratitude.

Olori Adenike Aderemi

In his remarks, the Atayero expressed his deep commitment to community development, emphasizing the need to cater to the less privileged, particularly elderly widows who are often neglected in society.

“This program is my way of giving back to Aramoko Ekiti and ensuring that our elderly widows, who are often forgotten, feel valued and supported. We must continue to prioritize the welfare of our people,” he said.

He also noted that the initiative reflects his personal philosophy of contributing to societal growth, stating, "No government, however benevolent, can meet all the needs of its people. This is my own contribution to the development of our community."

The Atayero seized the occasion to commend Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji for fostering peace and good governance in Ekiti State. He extended greetings to the governor, his cabinet, members of the House of Assembly, and the people of Aramoko Ekiti for welcoming the new year with unity and peace.

The widows, overwhelmed with joy, expressed their heartfelt appreciation for the consistent support provided by the Atayero over the years. Many described the initiative as a lifeline and a symbol of hope for vulnerable members of the community.

Community leaders and dignitaries in attendance lauded the Atayero’s vision, describing the program as a model of compassionate leadership. They urged other leaders to emulate his example, noting that the empowerment scheme has positively impacted hundreds of lives in Aramoko and beyond.

The Atayero's annual empowerment program continues to set a standard for community-focused leadership, serving as a reminder of the power of empathy and service in transforming lives.

NYCN Holds End-of-Year Meeting, Highlights Achievements and Plans for 2025.

NYCN Holds End-of-Year Meeting, Highlights Achievements and Plans for 2025.

The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Ekiti State Chapter, has reaffirmed its commitment to youth development while reviewing its activities for the year 2024.

The State Executive Council (SEC) of the council held its final meeting of the year on December 26, 2024, at the Youth House, Fajuyi, Ado-Ekiti. During the meeting, members reviewed the council’s activities for the year and made plans for 2025 to further enhance its impact on youth development.

The NYCN Ekiti State Chapter, as the apex body of all youth organizations in the state, coordinates faith-based, community-based, paramilitary, and voluntary youth groups. The council remains a critical platform for addressing youth-related issues and fostering collective growth and development among young people in Ekiti State.

Among other issues, the following are the resolutions of the State Executive Council of NYCN, moving forward;

1. The State Executive Council recognises the effort and support of Government towards youth development in the State through the Ministry of Youth Development, the SEC restate her confidence in the leadership of Gov. Biodun Oyebanji's led administration, appreciates payment of subvention to youth organizations in the State, appealed for more youth engagements in the state.

2. The SEC appreciates inclusion of youth in critical segment of Government in Ekiti State, particularly appointments of reasonable numbers of youths as SSA's/SA, both at State and Local government levels, implore Government to focus more on human capital development through the Ministry of Youth Development. 

3. The SEC highlighted her achievements for the year, which includes but not limited to, the 2024 International Day of the Girl Child Celebration, the 2024 World Health Day Against Drug Abuse, proper representation at all national events, participation at the 60th anniversary of the council in rivers state, interface with all youth organizations, among others. The SEC agrees to involve in more youth developmental activities moving forward. 

4. The SEC for the smooth running of the activities of the organization in the coming year, and to fill vacant executive positions in the SEC to make the council more vibrant, the SEC approves the appointment of Comr. Shina Awopetu as Acting Deputy Chairman and constitute the following persons as members of various committees to handle various programmes, they are;

- Committee on Education & Trainig:

1. Comr. Onileowo Benjamin

2. Comr. Adeyemi Temitope 

3. Comr. Anifowose Abdulrahman- Chairman

4. Miss Oguntiloye Precious

- Committee on Gender & Girl Child Empowerment: 

1. Miss. Olofe Sherifat - Chairperson.

2. Miss. Dorcas  Gorge - Member

3. Miss Akinwunmi Ifeoluwa- Member

4. Comr. Orebe Olanike - Secretary 

Committee on Agricultural Development:

1. Comr. Akinleye Peter - Chairman

2. Mr. Oke Sanmi - Member 

3. Mr. Femi Kotila - Member 

- Environment, Housing & Ecology.

1. Comr. Moshood Abiola - Chairman 

2. Miss Adebisi Fasasi - Member

3. Comr. Ajijola Adekunle - Member

4. Miss. Ganiyu Rasheedat - Member 

Physically Challenge

1. Comr. Awopetu Gideon- Chairman

2. Comr. 

Transportation Matters

1. Comr. Adebanjo Adeniyi - Chairman

2. Comr. Olubodun Olutayo - Member 

3. Comr. Hamzat Ademola - Secretary 

4. Comr. Elesin Olakunle -Member

Democratic & Good Governance

1. Comr. Akinwale Babatunde - Chairman

2. Comr. Kelvin Balogun - Secretary

3. Rt. Hon. Samuel Oluwatosin  - Member

4. Miss. Ewaoluwa Adedayo - Member

5. The SEC unanimously agreed to conduct elective State Congress to usher in new set of executives between June/July 2025, the SEC as well empower the Chairman to call for an expanded stakeholders meeting in regards to the preparation for the elective congress. The SEC also resolved to call for two management meetings on different occasions for proper preparation of the elective congress.

6. The SEC appreciates the State Chairman Hon. Famuyibo Oluwasegun for his tremendous efforts and for running a successful administration, the SEC further pass a vote of confidence on the chairman and assured him of total support moving forward.

7. The SEC thank all leaders and stakeholders of the organization for their support so far, wishes all Ekiti youths the very best of the festive period, implore the youths to be modest in their various end of the year activities.

Signed:

Hon. Famuyibo Oluwasegun 

Chairman, NYCN,

Ekiti State Chapter

08146878426

Comr. Adebanjo Adeniyi 

PRO, NYCN,

Ekiti State Chapter 

08068499625

Hon. Anifowose Abdulrahman 

Secretary,  NYCN, 

Ekiti State Chapter.

07065820379

President Tinubu Told Me He Has Asked BAO To Prepare For Second Term - Fayose.

President Tinubu Told Me He Has Asked BAO To Prepare For Second Term - Fayose.

Former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose, has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has given Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji the nod for a second term and pleaded with him to cooperate with other Ekiti leaders and patriots to actualise the goal.

Fayose spoke with reporters in Lagos after visiting the President at his Ikoyi, Lagos residence.

He said:”He pleaded with me to support him. I told him the governor is doing well. It is beyond politics; 95 per cent of Ekiti are behind the governor. Out of this, only 15 per cent are politicians. Majority are artisans, peasants,civil servants, traders, farmers, youths.

“The President confirmed that the governor told him that I have been supporting him. Governor Oyebanji is on the high way to his second term. He enjoys the confidence and support of the President…”

The president told me he has asked Oyebanji to prepare for his second term. I also told him that I will work with other Ekiti leaders to ensure the governor’s second term.”

SUPPORT TINUBU FOR POSITIVE TURNAROUND OF OUR COUNTRY’S FORTUNES, OYEBANJI APPEALS TO NIGERIANS.

SUPPORT TINUBU FOR POSITIVE TURNAROUND OF OUR COUNTRY’S FORTUNES, OYEBANJI APPEALS TO NIGERIANS.

….Pledges to work harder for Ekiti development in 2025.

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, has appealed to Nigerians to support President Bola Tinubu in his avowed determination to achieve a positive turnaround in the fortunes of Nigeria and ensure that its people enjoy better standard of living.

Oyebanji also enjoined Nigerians to stop making negative comments and confessions about the country, which he said is on the right path to economic recovery and prosperity.

President Tinubu, according to him, means well for Nigerians with his reforms which he said are beginning to yield expected dividends. 

The Governor who made the remarks on Thursday at the 2025 Inter-faith Thanksgiving Service held at the main theatre of Obafemi Awolowo Civic and Convention Centre, Ado Ekiti , said Nigerians should be grateful to God for giving them a courageous leader in person of President Tinubu, who, he said , is not afraid of taking decisions which are in the overall interest of the masses.

Oyebanji also used the opportunity of the interfaith service to restate his commitment to work harder for the development and prosperity of Ekiti State.

Acknowledging the commendation of clerics at the inter-faith thanksgiving service for the way he has been handling the affairs of the state, Oyebanji said he has no excuse not to live up to expectations of the people noting that God had prepared him well for the top job with the experience he had garnered in governance over the years.

Oyebanji hailed the people of the state for investing their goodwill in the All Progressives Congress (APC) through their votes which gave him the privilege to become their chief servant who leads other dedicated men and women to make sacrifices for the growth and development of the Land of Honour.

"As the chief servant of the people, I make a promise again before God and before all of you that are here today tht I will serve you with every fibre, every energy. I will serve you in truth and I will serve you with fear of God and 2025 will be our year of accelerated growth and development for us as a state and individually," he said.

The Governor attributed the recent increase in allocation to the state which has reflected increased salary for civil servants, other welfare packages for citizens who are not on government payroll as well as  ongoing and completed projects to the magnanimity of Tinubu who approved increment in allocation to states after the fuel subsidy removal.

Oyebanji expressed gratitude to Tinubu "for showing immense grace to him and to Ekiti people" saying, "after God, whatever we might have achieved is through the President because when you find favour in the presence of the President, it translates to good things for our people."

The Ekiti helmsman noted that Tinubu's policy shift is now being appreciated in some quarters that had earlier misunderstood him citing the example of the decision of the management of THISDAY Newspaper to give the President the Man of the Year award in recognition of his bold and courageous decisions in the overriding public interest.

Oyebanji said: "Please, let us continue to support our President because it is in our own interest to support him. We must thank God that God made him to be President for a time like this. One of my happiest moments was yesterday (Wednesday) when I woke up and I saw THISDAY Newspaper and they said Mr President is their Man of the Year and you know that THISDAY and ARISE TV are highly critical of  the President.

"They said that Mr President is courageous, that he is a strong-willed person. So, if that is coming from opposition elements, that means we owe it a duty to support the President. The President is human, if we continue to support him, I know that he will do more and we are already seeing positive developments arising from what he is doing.

"We are able to do what we are doing in Ekiti State because we had an increase in allocations at all levels. These allocations wouldn't have been possible if the President had not removed fuel subsidy. These are painful decisions but there is no country in the world that eats its yam sets and woukd not pay for it. What President Tinubu is telling us is that we should not eat our yam sets, that we should invest them.”

Speaking further, Oyebanji said : “As we enter 2025, our confessions about Nigeria should be positive. Most of us make negative comments about our nation and there is power in our tongues. Let us speak positively to our own Jerusalem because that is what Nigeria is to us so that all of us will find peace."

He urged well endowed Ekiti sons and fathers at home and in the Diaspora to emulate the  Founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) in mobilizing support for the state government, leveraging their influence, resources and goodwill. 

He said the two frontline citizens have been consistent in their support for the state, adding that the state would appreciate more of such support from other well endowed Ekiti. 

The service featured songs of praise, readings from the Bible and the Qur'an as well as  sermons and prayers by Muslim and Christian clerics. 

In attendance were the Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye; Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Adeoye Aribasoye; Head of Service, Dr Folakemi Olomojobi; acting Chief Judge, Justice Lekan Ogunmoye; members of the House of Assembly, State Executive Council, other political office holders, traditional rulers, religious leaders, labour leaders and civil servants.

Governor Oyebanji: PGF Celebrates Ekiti’s Beacon of Excellence as Silverbird Man of the Year.

Governor Oyebanji: PGF Celebrates Ekiti’s Beacon of Excellence as Silverbird Man of the Year.

The Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) proudly congratulates Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State on his well-deserved recognition as the Silverbird Man of the Year 2024, a testament to his outstanding leadership and transformative governance. This prestigious honor not only highlights Governor Oyebanji’s remarkable achievements but also celebrates the resilience and collective progress of the people of Ekiti State.

Governor Oyebanji has proven to be a trailblazer in governance, with his visionary policies and programs making an indelible mark on every sector of the state’s economy and society. His administration has revitalized agriculture, empowering farmers, improving food security, and driving rural development. Under his leadership, Ekiti has witnessed an unprecedented focus on job creation and employment, with thousands of opportunities provided for youth, women, and other vulnerable groups.

One of the hallmarks of Governor Oyebanji’s leadership is his ability to unite diverse groups and political forces. Ekiti, known for its vibrant political landscape, has been transformed into a model of inclusivity and collaboration. The governor’s commitment to fostering unity has brought stakeholders from across political divides together, working collectively for the state’s development.

Governor Oyebanji’s administration has prioritized youth and women development as a cornerstone of its agenda. Through innovative programs, young entrepreneurs have been supported, skill acquisition initiatives have been expanded, and women’s participation in economic and political spheres has been significantly enhanced. These efforts have strengthened the social fabric of Ekiti, empowering individuals to contribute meaningfully to the state’s growth.

Under Governor Oyebanji, Ekiti State has made significant strides in infrastructure development. Roads, schools, healthcare facilities, and other essential projects have been executed with precision, improving the quality of life for all residents. Recognizing Ekiti’s rich cultural heritage, the governor has also prioritized tourism development, positioning the state as a leading destination for cultural and natural exploration.

The Silverbird Man of the Year Award is a reflection of Governor Oyebanji’s tireless dedication, exceptional performance, and the unwavering trust of Ekiti people. In his acceptance speech, the governor humbly attributed the recognition to the collective efforts of the people, saying, “This honor is not about me but for Ekiti people. It is dedicated to God, Mr. President for his strong support, and Ekitikete for their massive backing of our administration.”

The Progressive Governors Forum commends Governor Oyebanji for embodying the values of unity, inclusivity, and development-driven leadership. His achievements resonate with the Forum’s commitment to advancing the prosperity of all Nigerians.

As we celebrate this historic recognition, we urge the people of Ekiti and Nigerians nationwide to continue supporting Governor Oyebanji and all Progressive Governors as they work tirelessly to build a prosperous and united Nigeria.

This award is not just a victory for Governor Oyebanji—it is a triumph for the people of Ekiti and a call to action for greater collaboration and development across the nation.

Congratulations to Governor Biodun Oyebanji and the people of Ekiti State. The Progressive Governors Forum stands with you, confident that the best is yet to come.

Signed

Folorunso S. Aluko

Director General, Progressive Governors Forum

The Ooni of Ife's Historic visit of Endorsement to Agbeyewa Farms.

The Ooni of Ife's Historic visit of Endorsement to Agbeyewa Farms.

The recent visit of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, to Agbeyewa Farms in Ekiti State has sparked widespread excitement and optimism. As one of Nigeria's most revered traditional rulers, the Ooni's endorsement of Agbeyewa Cassava farm as a flagship agro-allied investment platform is a resounding vote of confidence in the farm's potential to drive economic growth, job creation, and prosperity.

During his visit, the Ooni was visibly impressed by the farm's sprawling cassava plantations and its commitment to revolutionizing cassava production and its value chains in Nigeria and Africa. His presence was a source of inspiration and a blessing to the farm's management, staff, and surrounding communities.

No doubt, the Ooni's endorsement of Agbeyewa Farms as a model for agricultural development and job creation would further strengthen the farm commitment to driving economic growth and sustainable development in Ekiti State and beyond. 

The Ooni's call to action, urging traditional rulers in the Ikole Local Government area to support Agbeyewa Farms, is a significant booster that promises to foster greater collaboration and cooperation amongst key stakeholders in that environment. By rallying behind the farm, these traditional rulers can benefit greatly for their people, an ample economic prosperity agenda being championed by Agbeyewa, to drive economic growth, and improve the livelihoods of local communities.

The Ooni's tributes to the duo of John Olajide and his brother, Ron Olajide, who have invested heavily in Agbeyewa Farms, is an inspired balm that will continue to ginger them to continue to invest in the lives of the people of Ekiti State and Nigeria at large.

The duos' courage and determination to make a positive impact on their home state are a shining example of patriotic entrepreneurship.

As Agbeyewa Farms continues on its remarkable journey, the Ooni's endorsement has no doubt ignited a sense of excitement and anticipation. With this commitment to driving economic growth, job creation, and prosperity, Agbeyewa Farms is poised to become a flagship project for Ekiti State and a model for sustainable agricultural development in Nigeria and beyond.