Oyebanji hosts US team, seeks America’s partnership on agriculture, Cocoa development

Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State has solicited the partnership and support of the United States of America in developing the critical economic sectors of the state.

Oyebanji said Ekiti State was desirous of the American government’s support for the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security on cocoa development as well as a collaboration between the state’s knowledge Zone and US technology hub, the Silicon Valley.

He pointed out that such would help to achieve his administration’s shared prosperity agenda.

Oyebanji spoke in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday during a meeting with a team from American Embassy, led by the Charge d’Affaires, David Green, adding that the state would explore the American expertise, resources, and investment as a progressive partner in the areas of economy, security, climate change, innovations, among others.

The Ekiti State governor, at the meeting which was attended by the Consul General of the American Embassy, William Stevens; Chairman of CAVISTA Holdings, who is also the Chairman of Corporate Council on Africa, Mr John Olajide; and some top embassy officials, commended the American Government for the support the state had received in its agriculture development drive, especially the Ikun Dairy Farm.

Stressing that productivity remained the watchword in his administration’s economic drive, Oyebanji said any state that desires growth must be productive.

“If a state must prosper, it must work on productivity and for productivity to happen there must be collaboration with the private sector”, he added.

He highlighted areas of collaborations with the United States to include support in the agriculture sector, Ekiti Knowledge Zone, Youth and women empowerment, art and culture, climate change, health care, renewable energy, and investment promotion.

The governor assured his visitors that his government would continue to provide an enabling environment for private sectors with the aim of turning the state into production hub, thereby growing the economy of the state

He said, “The State thank you for your support and investment Ikun Dairy Farm. Ikun is a game changer, they have done so well, but they can do better, so we will be looking for support at feed formulation, among others”, the governor said.

Earlier, Green had expressed the readiness of the United States Government to work with Ekiti State Government to grow the state’s economy, adding that the Embassy would identify potential areas of development where the US could lend a hand.

The ambassador assured the governor that the United States government was keen on ways to foster fruitful collaboration with the state government especially in the fields of agriculture, health, knowledge economy, among others.

He promised to further the discussion with relevant agencies of the state government.

Other top officials at the meeting include Speaker of House of Assembly, Adeoye Aribasoye; Deputy Speaker, Bolaji Olagbaju; the Secretary to the State Government, Habibat Adubiaro; Head of Service, Sunday Komolafe; Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Ebenezer Boluwade; Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Oyebanji Filani; Special Adviser on Governance, Odunayo Ayeni and Director General, Ekiti Development and Investment Promotion Agency (EKDIPA), Lolade Olutola.

The Embassy’s team included Foreign Agriculture Counsellor, Chris Bielecki; Deputy Political and Economic Chief, Kenise Hill; Political Specialist, Mayowa Obilade; Foreign Agricultural Specialist, Tolani Abegunde.

The team later inspected the Agbeyewa Farms and other agricultural investments in the state.