OkeOgun Youths Association has called on the Oyo state government to reconsider its decision to spend the recently approved N7.6billion loan by the State House of Assembly on Akufo and Eruwa Farm settlements only.
The call was made when the management of the OkeOgun Green Revolution initiative of OkeOgun Youths Association paid a courtesy visit to the Deputy Governor of the state, Engr. Rauf Olaniyan.
Speaking on behalf of the association, Bola Olalere, the project coordinator of the OkeOgun Green Revolution expressed the association’s concern over the plan of the state government to spend the N7.6billion loan recently approved.
Olalere said that it will be unfair on the other regions, especially the OkeOgun region, which is the unarguable food basket of the state.
“Our Association pleads with you, your Excellency to take this our concern to the state Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde who we believe will amend the bill and spread the loan across the state.”
While responding, the Deputy Governor, Eng Rauf Olaniyan promised the government unflinching support for Oke Ogun Green Revolution initiative of the Okeogun Youth Association.
The Deputy Governor said that Governor Makinde’s led administration is ready to implement policies that will develop Agriculture and generate employment for the youths in all regions of the state.
“Oke Ogun being the food basket of the nation would be given adequate attention. It will enjoy improved infrastructural facilities and good road networks that will make life easier for the people and boost the economy of the region,” Olaniyan stated.
He also stressed that part of their plans is to make credit facilities available to young farmers, build silos, for storage and off-take most of their products after harvesting.
He said that with the dry port coming to Ibadan it will be easier to export agricultural products direct from the state without having to go to Lagos.
Earlier, Olalere had informed the deputy governor that OkeOgun Green Revolution is aimed at encouraging youths from the region to engage in profitable, sustainable and commercial agriculture by creating a platform that will generate networks that will make the work easier and interesting to them.
He said that the association has acquired 1500 Hectares of land in four different locations across OkeOgun and currently has about 1600 registered members who are ready to take farming as their main occupation.
