Agriculture key to tackling restiveness — Ondo Assembly
By Elizabeth Oyeniwa
The Ondo State House of Assembly Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources has pledged its legislative backing to the Ondo State Agribusiness Empowerment Centre (OSAEC) in its efforts to empower youths and curb restiveness.
The committee, led by its Chairman, Hon Fatai Atere, alongside the Vice Chairman, Hon Abiola Oladapo, Majority Leader,Hon Olatunji Oshati, Former majority leader, Hon Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi,Babatunde Fasonu and other members, made this commitment during an oversight visit to the agency’s headquarters in Akure.
In their remarks, Chairman and members of the committee lauded the passion and dedication of the agency’s management, describing OSAEC as a major player in the state’s agricultural sector. They noted that with its various initiatives, the agency was making agribusiness attractive to the younger generation, thereby reducing over-reliance on white-collar jobs.
The lawmakers further stated that the design and implementation of the agency’s projects would not only create wealth but also reduce unemployment across the state. They emphasized that passion and hard work remained critical to success in the agricultural sector.
While commending OSAEC for its achievements, the committee urged the agency to collaborate more with sister agencies, share ideas, and develop additional strategies to expand its impact. Members observed that the agency’s activities were geared towards empowerment and therefore required the collective support of all stakeholders.
They also called on unemployed youths to take advantage of the numerous opportunities within the sector stressing that such ventures would have multiplier effects on the state’s economy.
Earlier, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Agriculture and Agribusiness, Mr. Wemimo Akinsola, outlined OSAEC’s activities and achievements to the visiting lawmakers.
He explained that the agency had recorded progress in areas such as farmer training and empowerment, grading of rural roads leading to major farm settlements, conceptualization of Sunshine Investment in Agribusiness, and engagement with federal government-owned agricultural agencies.
According to him, the agency also initiated a farmer registration process to better understand the needs and locations of its stakeholders, while addressing emerging issues such as polygon mapping to track produce and prevent deforestation though this has raised concerns about land ownership and control.
Mr. Akinsola stressed the need for joint ventures between government and the private sector to attract investments and drive growth. Drawing lessons from Niger State’s model, he emphasized that clarifying land ownership and usage was critical for promoting agricultural development.
He highlighted potential areas of collaboration, including rice production partnerships, large-scale mixed cropping, and co-financing agreements with bodies such as the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF).
“Our agency serves as the business arm of government, empowering youths through training and support. We are committed to developing a robust plan that will unlock Ondo State’s agricultural potential,” Akinsola stated.
The visit ended with the committee’s renewed assurance of legislative support for OSAEC’s programs, aimed at positioning agriculture as a viable pathway for youth engagement, wealth creation, and sustainable development in Ondo State.
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