Nigeria’s Vice-President, Senator Kashim Shettima, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akinwumi Adesina and the Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde, on Saturday, turned the sod for the Oyo State Agribusiness Industrial Hub, Ijaiye, under the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone.
Shettima, who was represented by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari and Adesina, lauded Governor Makinde for his unwavering commitment and dedication to the development of Oyo State through agriculture and food security.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony held at Atan Village, Ijaiye, Akinyele Local Government, Senator Kyari, while delivering the message of Vice-President Shettima, said the project would unlock vast potentials and create opportunities for Oyo State residents.
He stressed that the project would also serve as a strategic partnership between the state, other states of the federation and the Federal Government.
He added that Nigeria’s future as a country lies in transforming agriculture and agribusiness resources into value-added products that would enhance industries, generate employment and uplift the farmers.
The Vice-President assured that the Federal Government would support Oyo State to become a productive sector and to achieve its full potential as an agriculture hub in the country, appreciating the development partners and stakeholders for their support in laying the foundation for an agro-industrial hub in the state.
In his address, Governor Makinde, said the Ijaiye Agribusiness Industrial Hub would serve as a clear commitment to delivering on the Oyo State Roadmap for Sustainable Development, 2023-2027, in the area of repositioning agriculture as a commercial force creating jobs for youths, attracting investors and sustaining the economy of the state.
The governor, who noted that the building of agro-industrial hubs started from Fasola in Oyo zone to Eruwa in Ibarapa zone, assured that before the expiration of his tenure in 2027, he would design and hand over the designs of other agro-industrial hubs in Ipapo, Ilora and Iresa-Adu.
Stressing the importance of the agribusiness hubs, the governor reckoned that the Fasola Agro-Industrial Hub has changed the local economy of the state from poverty to prosperity, charging the people of Ijaiye community to embrace and support the project.
He equally expressed the confidence that the new agribusiness hub in Ijaiye would also be a success story like that of the Fasola Agribusiness Hub.
He appreciated the AfDB and Dr. Adesina under whose leadership the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone initiative saw the light of the day, while he also lauded the Federal Government, technical partners, and all stakeholders who played a role in making the Ijaiye SAPZ a reality as well as communities that welcomed the project with open hands.
Earlier in his remarks, the President, African Development Bank Group, Dr. Adesina commended Governor Makinde for his exemplary leadership, vision and commitment to transforming the state, describing him as an action governor, while lauding the development of the Fasola Agribusiness Hub.
He noted that agribusiness is important to drive the economy, reduce post-harvest losses and create job opportunities, commending President Bola Tinubu for his support for the special agro-processing zone initiative.
He equally hailed the Vice-President for standing by the initiative, while he also commended the Minister of Finance, Mr Wale Edun, who he said made sure that the subsidiary agreements between all the states were done.
Also speaking, the AfDB’s Director-General, Nigeria, Dr Abdul Kamara, appreciated Governor Makinde for his support, commitment and acceleration of agribusiness industrial hubs in Oyo State.
He noted that Makinde’s policy is consistent with AfDB’s approach to rural and economic transformation and vision to guarantee food security, agro-processing, agricultural transformations, industrialisation and improving livelihood.
He added that the industrial hub would unlock natural potentials and transform rural areas for economic benefits, assuring of AfDB’s maximum support to the speedy execution of the project.
Speaking about the Special Agro-industrial Processing Zones project (SAPZ), the National Project Coordinator, Dr. Kabir Yusuf, explained that the programme is an agricultural production programme establishing designated zones for modern agro-production and processing clusters.
He added that the agro-industrial processing zone would process indigenous commodities produced in the state by smallholders and large-scale commercial farmers and put them on market shelves of finished goods rather than exporting the raw commodities for lower monetary value.
Also in their separate goodwill messages, Director -General, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Dr. Simeon Ehui and the chairman Ijaiye Farm Settlers, Chief Olatunji, expressed gratitude to Governor Makinde for setting the pace and introducing innovation in agribusiness, assuring of continued support to the development of the project.
In his welcome address, the Director-General, OYSADA, Dr Debo Akande, said the agribusiness industrial hubs in the state would accommodate over 40 agricultural industries, provide employment for over 100,000 people and support the livelihood of more than 500,000 farmers, transforming them from peasantry to medium and large scale farmers.
He added that the projects will also transform rural villages into agro-based industrial areas linked to the economies of the peri-urban and urban areas.
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