13 Jan Oyo, NIHORT Partner for Agricultural Revolution

Oyo State Government through has said it was ready to partner with the National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT) in its drive towards industrializing the economy of Oyo State through agricultural revolution.

The State Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Hon. Ojemuyiwa Ojekunle  disclosed this while playing host to NIHORT governing board, led by its chairman, Major General Muhammad. Garba (Rtd) at his office at on Monday in Ibadan.

Ojekunle stated that NIHORT has always proffered solutions to agricultural issues as a research institution in the country, adding that the present administration was ready to explore all opportunities to foster mutual collaboration and cooperation towards a successful agric policy implementation in the state.

Hon. Ojekunle said that the economy of Oyo State under the leadership of Governor Seyi Makinde placed a high priority on Agricultural development as a key strategy to industrialize the state economy while creating jobs for the unemployed and opening up the state to the rest of the world for critical  investments.

“We are happy to declare our readiness to go into partnership with NIHORT towards fostering our desired agricultural revolution in the State, we recognize the impact of the research institution on the nation’s economy and in sustaining the drive to banish hunger.

“It is part of the promise made by the Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde to revive the State’s economy and engage  a substantial percentage of our youths in agriculture, this is being done as we speak.

“Adequate funding of mechanized farming is the target, it has started and we will not look back,” he maintained.

Ojemuyiwa declared that the present administration was on a mission to make Oyo State economically strong and viable without having to depend on oil proceeds to develop its critical sectors, adding that the determination to take Oyo State to an enviable height among other States of the federation in terms of revenue and employment generation was made clear by Governor Makinde from the onset.

The Chairman of NIHORT governing board, Major General Muhammad Garba who led the delegation of NIHORT board executives and other top officials to the commissioner’s office thanked him for receiving them on behalf of the Governor and added that the visit was a courtesy call and to seek ways of mutual collaboration and cooperation towards successful implementation of Agricultural development in the State and by extension, Nigeria.

He said that the institute was committed to agricultural development in Nigeria which was the reason it went into partnership with all States of the federation.

He said that President Buhari has consistently propagated agricultural development as an alternative to oil and the Federal Government was working towards achieving the feat, adding that the agriculture agenda of Oyo State Government was in line with the mandate of the institute, which necessitated the visit.

Hon. Wasiu Olatunbosun

Hon. Commissioner for Information,

Culture & Tourism,

Ibadan.