Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji has declared that agriculture remains Nigeria’s most viable route out of its current economic challenges, describing it as the most sustainable solution to unemployment, poverty and food insecurity.
Oyebanji stated this while receiving the Consul General of the Netherlands, Michel Deelen, and his delegation during a courtesy visit to his office in Ado Ekiti. The meeting, according to a statement signed by the governor’s Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, was part of ongoing efforts to attract foreign partnerships to strengthen Ekiti’s agricultural value chain.
The governor said his administration deliberately prioritised agriculture as a central pillar of its development agenda, noting that it holds the key to unlocking the state’s vast economic potential.
“I believe strongly that for a people or a country to develop, especially in Nigeria, given our God-given resources, land and human capital, if we get agriculture right, we will solve at least 60 per cent of our problems,” Oyebanji said.
“We will tackle food insecurity, unemployment, and poverty, even insecurity itself. That is why agriculture remains a major focus of this administration.”
Oyebanji highlighted that since assuming office, his government had made significant investments in agricultural development, especially in youth engagement.
“When we came into office, we made deliberate interventions in the agric sector, and I can confidently say that within two years, we have taken about 5,000 youths off the streets and into agriculture. This can be verified,” he added.
He commended the Netherlands for its global leadership in modern agriculture and expressed optimism that a partnership between Ekiti State and the European country would boost productivity, promote innovation and accelerate rural development.
In his remarks, the Consul General of the Netherlands, Michel Deelen, praised Ekiti State’s achievements in transforming agriculture into a major driver of economic growth and youth empowerment.
Deelen expressed his government’s readiness to partner with the state in areas such as agricultural technology, irrigation systems, capacity building and value chain enhancement.
“The Netherlands, as a world leader in modern agriculture, is eager to collaborate with the Ekiti State Government in knowledge sharing, investment promotion and the introduction of innovative farming practices that will strengthen the state’s agricultural base,” he said.
The visit marks another milestone in Ekiti’s quest to position itself as a leading hub for agribusiness and agro-industrial development in Nigeria.
