Thursday, December 18, 2025 - Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji has said his administration will continue to support youth-driven agricultural initiatives through access to land, improved inputs, extension services mechanisation, market linkages and partnership with the private sector.
He spoke during the presentation of cheques totalling one
billion naira as profits made by the young farmers under the Bring Back the
Youth in Agriculture programme for the 2025 harvest season.
About 4,657 youths, who participated in the programme, got
cheques ranging from N500,000 to N1,500,000 at the event held at Osuntokun
Pavilion, Government House, Ado-Ekiti.
Oyebanji said the programme aligned with his
administration’s shared prosperity agenda because it led to job creation, which
contributed to food sufficiency, poverty alleviation and general well-being of
Ekiti residents.The governor, represented by the Chief of Staff, Mr Niyi
Adebayo, noted that the event represented the reward of youths for months of
dedication, resilience and adherence to best agricultural practices, adding
that it signalled a strong message to every young person in the state and beyond
that agriculture was no longer a vocation of last resort, but a business that
one could proudly and profitably engage in on sustainable basis.
Expressing appreciation to the youth for their resilience
and cooperation throughout the period of the project, the governor said he was
proud of their achievements as it demonstrated that with the right support,
training and commitment, young people could drive economic growth and become
employers of labour, rather than job seekers.
He urged them to utilise the proceeds wisely by reinvesting
it in their farms by expanding their operations, adopting modern technologies
and best practices as well as building sustainable agribusiness that could
stand the test of time.
He stressed the need for them to let their success mark the
beginning of bigger achievements rather than the end of their journey.
“Today’s gathering is not just about the presentation of
cheques, it is about celebrating the triumph of our youths, an event that tells
a powerful story of hard work, of discipline, of vision, of success. It is also
to validate our own, our belief in agriculture as a viable and economic
pathway.’’
Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Ebenezer
Boluwade, expressed his appreciation to Governor Oyebanji for nurturing the
vision, support and commitment to the success of the programme through his
intervention in the establishment of 12 farm hubs for the youth, free land
clearing that’s up to 5,000 hectares, provision of adequate security,
construction of five dormitories in Ikere, Eporo, Ado, Aramoko and Iyemero as
well as provision of buses to all the farm clusters among others.
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