BREAKING: GOVERNOR SEYI MAKINDE SIGNS OYO STATE AGRIBUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AGENCY BILL INTO LAW

The Executive Governor of Oyo State, Engr Seyi Makinde, has signed into law, the bill for the establishment of the Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency. The bill which was signed into law at the Government House, Agodi, Ibadan had in attendance, the Deputy Governor, Engr Rauf Olaniyan, the Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, the Secretary to the State Government, Olubanwo Adeosun, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Oyebisi ILaka, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Taiwo Adisa, the Special Adviser on Media, Jide Ajani and the Executive Adviser on Agric, DR. Debo Akande.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Governor Makinde said the law will make adequate provision for the establishment, composition and powers of the Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency and every other matters connected there with.

Makinde noted that Agribusiness forms one of the cardinal programmes of his administration and with what we have done today, we have been able to give a legal support to the newly established agency.

He added that the agency is now free to start business as OYSADA, noting that the office would be located in Saki and their operations will kick off as soon as possible and the two projects the agency will embark upon are the Farm Estates in Eruwa and Akufo.

On his part, the Executive Adviser to the Governor on Agric, DR.Debo Akande, opined that the law establishing the   Agribusiness Development Agency is to set in motion the plan of the State Government to develop Oyo State as the Agribusiness of the country and Sub – Sahara Africa as a whole. He said modern approach would be adopted into Agricultural practices and the need to engage in the business dimension, management dimension and different actors would need to participate in this new approach.

Akande added that the new approach would be driven by the private sectors that will collaborate with the government as well as the farmers that are willing to migrate from micro to medium enterprises.

He described the law as a landmark in the history of the state, adding that the law would turn around the fortune of the state completely. He said the agricultural sector remains the key components of the economy of any nation when economic challenges arise. He said the law will enable any serious country that engages in Agribusiness to benefit from the African Free Trade Continental Agreement that was signed to impact positively on agricultural practices of such country which is what Oyo State has just done.