BY TIMOTHY AGBOR, OSOGBO
Osun State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola, on Monday, urged citizens of the state to embrace agriculture and also take advantage of the wealth in it to boost the economy of the state.
This charge came as the monthly Food Support Scheme initiated by Oyetola’s administration, aimed at cushioning the socio-economic effects of the hardship occasioned by prevailing global economic downturn and COVID-19 pandemic on the vulnerable citizens, was commended by some young entrepreneurs who are into local production of staple foods in the state.
The highly-excited young entrepreneurs also extolled government for providing an enabling environment and sustainable template for their businesses to thrive, saying the gesture has rekindled their hope for a better tomorrow.
They said the hands of patronage extended to them by government towards the actualisation and sustainability of its monthly food support scheme would go a long way to further encourage youths to put in their best and boost the local production of goods in the State and beyond.
The young entrepreneurs who have been contracted to make the supply, specialise in the production of food commodities such as garri, cassava/yam flours, banana flours, pando-yam among other stable foods.
Addressing journalists Monday during the 11th flag-off of the scheme at the open field of the Local Government Service Commission, Government Secretariat, Abere, Osogbo, one of the local entrepreneurs who supplied a significant amount of gari to government for distribution, Mr. Raji Ahmed Adekunle, hailed Governor Oyetola for providing quality leadership and demonstrating capacity and high sense of seriousness to harness and explore the potential embedded in the youths for the growth and development of the state.
Adekunle said the inclusion of his venture in the list of those that supplied gari to the government has helped to expand the scope of his business for maximum capacity.
He said: “Recently, I was invited by the state government to be part of those that would supply gari in large quantity. We have done this and as you can see, we were able to meet up with government expectations in this regard.
“To me, this is highly unprecedented and commendable as it will go a long way to encourage us to continue to do our business, expand our production capacity and extension and create employment opportunity for others.
“So, this initiative is well appreciated, as far as I am concerned. When I was contacted and later contracted for this, it first came as a surprise because I was surprised that someone like me that resides in Ode-Omu could be found worthy to supply gari to government.
“I find it very surprising that the State government will be so magnanimous to recognise my little efforts in far away Ode-Omu. With this alone, I have been elevated by the project as this would go a long way to project ‘Garri- Ode-Omu’ to the world and beyond.
“It is also worthy of letting the people know how magnaniomous the government has been to us to have approved a take-off grant to execute the production. Indeed, this is very unprecedented because it is a plus to us as a people.
“I will advise the government to continue with this project because the impact is being felt across the nooks and crannies of the state. Take for instance, I have more than 12 local women working directly and indirectly for me and the implication is that these women have as well benefitted from this project.
“The dividends of democracy have been extended to them and they are very happy. In fact, they passed a positive remark on the present Administration.
So, if they could do that, then imagine how the government has impacted my project and my personal life. I will advise that the government continue to do things like this to enhance society.”
Similarly, Mr. Azeez Tajudeen Olayemi; Alhaja Bola Alabi and Mr. Wale Afolabi who are among the young entrepreneurs that supplied the commodity to government, expressed gratitude to Governor Oyetola for his keen interest in advancing local productions.
While flagging off the 11th edition of the Scheme, Governor Oyetola called on youths in the state to create interest in farming as his government was poised to reviving the sector to actualise its economic diversification.
Governor Oyetola who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prince Wole Oyebamiji, said the distribution of garri has helped to complement the economy value chain projected by the government. He urged citizens to embrace farming stressing that it is money-spinning venture.
“Our administration is a government of the people, by the people and for the people. As such, the Governor has great interest in the growth of the economy of the state.
“If we are encouraging young men and women to go into farming, we as a government has a responsibility to ensure that they have patronage and to ensure that they have support so that going back to farm will be meaningful because it is not easy to encourage youths to go back to farm without necessary support.
“The production of garri being produced locally by our people is an attestation to the fact that there is wealth in farming. This will be an encouragement to boost farming, grow our economy and provide employment opportunity for our people.
“We are proud to do it, and we are not regretting it. This will not in any way relegate other staple foods that we have adopted for distribution. We believe we should encourage local productions too,” he said.
