Seyi Makinde, the governor of Oyo State, reaffirmed yesterday his administration’s dedication to investigating cutting-edge technologies to enhance and revolutionize the state’s agricultural methods.
Speaking through Deputy Governor Abdulraheem Bayo Lawal, Makinde made this statement at the Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Ibadan, during a courtesy call with Chinese investors from China Overseas Engineering Group Co. Limited.
He pointed out that the current administration’s goals to grow the state’s economy and draw in more investors include investments in value chain and agricultural development.
The governor also mentioned the state’s comparative edge in agriculture and the investments it has made in infrastructure and security.
In order to ensure food security, increase agricultural productivity, and establish the State as a center for agro-industrial processing—all of which he said would create thousands of job possibilities and enhance revenue drive—he urged Chinese investors to collaborate with the State Government.
He promised that the government will create a supportive atmosphere to help the investors realize their goal of working with the government.
Lawal said, “On behalf of His Excellency, the Governor of Oyo State, let me formally welcome you to Oyo State. I was really excited that you are coming to Oyo State with the sole purpose of partnering with us and with the view to lifting our economy.
“The DG OYSIPA hinted that your core competence is in agriculture. When I also interacted with the DG OYSADA to validate the statement made, he also confirmed that your core competence is in agriculture.
“And really, when you made your presentation this afternoon, I found out that you are here to make some workable progress in areas of agriculture, be it crop, poultry, animal husbandry, and so on.
“So, you are highly welcome to Oyo State. As a State Government, it means that we can do business together. The infrastructural development that we have in place, settlements that can attract further agriculture development, and even our hospitable people around here, all of those are available to our investors.
“Any race or country that ignores the production of food to feed its citizens is in peril. So, that is why your coming and the area of competencies that you seem to be giving to us are very attractive.
“You are bringing technology to improve the value chain. We may be giving land, security, infrastructure as our contribution, if you so choose.
“It all depends on the model that you put on the table that will be mutually beneficial to the two parties. But what is important, what you are priding, what you are selling, is agric-technology.
“What we have in Oyo State, as I have said, is land. So, if you are looking for land, in order for you to bring about the technology that you are bringing from China, we have it in large quantity in our State.”
He added: “The size of Oyo State is equal to the size of five States in the south-eastern part of Nigeria. In other words, if you do business with our State, it is like you are doing business with five States in Nigeria in terms of land mass.
“Fortunately, in our State, we have rain forest vegetation like we have in Ibadan around here. You have almost Sahel vegetation up North of our state. And, in between, you have another vegetation that can support all kinds of agric practices.
“So, it is not just cassava or rice. You can look at other opportunities that can support the kind of vegetation that we have in our state.
“Let me also say that the Governor of Oyo State, if he travels out looking for investors, I think 90 per cent out of his journeys target investments in agribusiness and agriculture value chain.
“So, we stand ready in Oyo State to embrace whatever technology to improve our system, particularly agric system that we practise in our state to lift us from primary subsistence agricultural practices to industrial and commercial agric enterprises.
“Currently, we are establishing Agribusiness Hubs around the State. The first one is Fasola and I hope you will be there very shortly. Eruwa, if time permits, you will be there. And then recently, we have Ijaye.
“Actually, less than a month or about a month ago now, the President of African Development Bank was here in Oyo State to flag off the Ijaye Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone. That’s just about 30 kilometres away from this spot. So, all of these are geared towards a strong commitment to agricultural development in Oyo State.”
In addition, Dr. Debo Akande, Director General of the Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency, expressed gratitude for the Chinese team’s vision and goal, pointing out that it was in line with the state’s agricultural strategies.He pointed out that the state’s efforts to create agro-processing zones, build industrial centers, and change rural areas are all focused on using the state’s comparative advantages in agribusiness to boost the economy.
He urged a partnership that would be advantageous to both parties, stating, “Your vision, plans and your mission are well understood and we are clear about them.”
He added, “Your vision aligns with the direction that we are going already as a state. Why did I say this? In the last close to seven years, the key area that the state has focused on under the leadership of His Excellency, the Governor of the State has primarily been on how to take advantage of our comparative advantage in the state, which, as everybody probably knows, is agriculture and agribusiness.”
Alhaji Abubakar Yerima, the team lead and Director of Strategic Services at the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission in Abuja, had earlier praised Makinde for bringing about the State’s transformation through commendable infrastructure projects and agriculture investments.Additionally, in her remarks, Ms. Dong Gwping, the Chinese team’s leader, emphasized that the team’s intervention was anticipated to transform the agricultural landscape by promoting socioeconomic growth and development in the State for the entire value chain with the supply of Chinese technologies and partnership expertise.