The Government of Ekiti State has inaugurated the Agriculture Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (AGRIC-MEAL) Team, a strategic initiative designed to strengthen accountability, transparency, and performance in the agricultural sector.
The inauguration, held on Thursday, 21st August 2025 at the Conference Hall of the Governor’s Office, Ado-Ekiti, was presided over by the Governor, who was represented by his Chief of Staff Mr. Oyeniyi Adebayo, who highlighted the administration’s commitment to entrenching data-driven governance and ensuring that agriculture remains a key driver of food security, job creation, and economic growth in the state.
The Governor explained that the AGRIC-MEAL Team is not just another reporting body, but a strategic framework to monitor interventions, evaluate outcomes, ensure accountability, and foster continuous learning in line with global best practices.
The composition of the AGRIC-MEAL Team as approved by His Excellency, Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, is as follows:
1. Engr. (Dr.) John Moyo Ekundayo – Coordinator
(Special Adviser/Director-General, Office of Transformation and Service Delivery – OTSD)
2. Dr. Solomon Ayodeji Ekundayo – Member
3. Prof. Segun Ajibola – Member
4. Engr. Adebiyi Adebayo Ojo – Member
5. Mr. Adetunji Aribasoye – Member
(Senior Special Assistant, Monitoring & Evaluation, OTSD)
6. Mr. Toba Fatunla – Member
(Special Assistant, Service Delivery, OTSD)
7. Mr. Akeem Olusola Salami – Secretary
(Director, Office of the Chief of Staff)
In his remarks, the newly inaugurated Coordinator, Engr. (Dr.) John Moyo Ekundayo, assured that the Team will adopt a data-driven, participatory, transparent, and inclusive approach to its work.
He emphasized that the focus will be on learning, not blame; progress, not paperwork, ensuring that agricultural policies and programmes are refined through evidence-based evaluation and deliver tangible results to farmers and rural communities.
The event was graced by top government functionaries including the Head of Service, Dr. (Mrs.) Olufolake Olomojobi; Commissioner for Education, Dr. (Mrs.) Olabimpe Aderiye; Special Adviser/Director-General, Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Pastor James Folorunso and the Special Adviser on Special Education, Princess Adetoun Agboola.
Others are the Technical Advisor on Change Management, Rev. Biyi Fashoyin; and Technical Advisor, OTSD, Pastor Kayode Odunayo and Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Special Services, Dr Lateef Oluwafemi Buhari.
Also present was the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Ebenezer Babatope, who represented the Honourable Commissioner for Agriculture reiterated the readiness and commitment of the Ministry to partner with the team in ensuring the team’s job is effectively carried out.
The inauguration of the AGRIC-MEAL Team marks another milestone in Governor Oyebanji’s administration’s pursuit of accountability, innovation, and effective service delivery within the agricultural sector, in line with the Six Strategic Pillars of the government.