Governor Oyebanji Insists Agriculture Can Solve 60% of Nigeria’s Problems, Cites 5,000 Youths Engaged in Ekiti

The Governor of Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji, has positioned agriculture as the most critical and sustainable solution to the multi-faceted crises facing Nigeria, asserting that a strategic focus on the sector can resolve at least 60% of the nation’s problems.

Governor Oyebanji made the emphatic declaration today, Sunday, November 9, 2025, in Ado Ekiti, while receiving the Consul General of the Netherlands, Michel Deelen, and his accompanying delegation.

“I believe strongly that for a people or a country to develop, especially in Nigeria, giving our God-given resources, lands and human capital, if we get agriculture right, we will solve at least 60 per cent of our problems,” the Governor stated. He elaborated that success in agriculture would simultaneously tackle the intertwined challenges of food insecurity, unemployment, poverty, and the root causes of insecurity itself.

Ekiti’s Blueprint for Success

The Governor highlighted that agriculture is a core priority within his administration’s shared prosperity agenda, not merely as a means of food sufficiency but as a dedicated tool for wealth creation and youth empowerment.

To demonstrate his commitment, Governor Oyebanji cited verifiable results from Ekiti State, stating, “When we came into office, I was deliberate about our intervention in the agric sector, and we are one of the few states, I can beat my chest and tell you that within two years, we pulled off the streets 5,000 youths to agriculture.”

This mass mobilization is being achieved through initiatives such as the “Bring Back the Youth to Agriculture (BBYA)” program, which is complemented by infrastructure aimed at making farming attractive. This includes the revival of old farm settlements and the commissioning of new “Renewed Hope Farm Dormitories,” which provide secure, comfortable accommodation for young farmers working in the state’s extensive farm clusters.

The Governor concluded by commending the Netherlands for its global expertise in the agricultural sector and expressed Ekiti State’s readiness to collaborate to enhance productivity and accelerate the state’s agricultural revolution.