In a bid to position Ekiti State as an agricultural hub in the Southwest and Nigeria, the state government has welcomed Origin Group, a global agricultural investment firm, as its latest development partner.
Governor Biodun Oyebanji, while receiving the company’s management team, led by its chairman, Mr. Samuel Joseph, at the Governor’s Office in Ado Ekiti, reiterated his administration’s commitment to attracting investors and fostering growth in the agricultural sector.
The governor disclosed that discussions would continue on the terms and conditions for the company’s operations in Ekiti. He emphasized that his government had spent the last two years prioritizing infrastructural development in agriculture, adding that while progress had been made, more investors were needed to transform agriculture from a subsistence practice into a structured business.
Joseph commended the state government’s efforts, particularly in reviving the Awolowo Farm Settlement model. He revealed that Ekiti had been chosen as the pilot state for the project, with land and crop mapping set to commence soon.
According to him, Origin Group is committed to securing uptake orders for farmers, minimizing post-harvest losses, and ensuring that profits remain in the hands of producers, especially youths, as part of efforts to tackle underemployment in the state.