Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, at the weekend said his government was making concerted efforts to make commercial agriculture the mainstay of the state’s economy hence the decision to establish the College of Agriculture and Technology, Isan Ekiti.

The governor stated this in Ado Ekiti while inaugurating the governing council of the College. He said the state government under his watch is “walking the talk in the agriculture sector” with the aim of ensuring food security and financially empowering Ekiti farmers.

Dr Fayemi stated that the quest to restore agriculture to its pride of place in Ekiti State has necessitated a number of reforms and initiatives such as developing partnership with private sectors such as Promasidor and Dangote Farms to boost the agric sector in the state.

The governor explained that the essence of the College of agriculture was to train people in agricultural best practices through modern technology with an expectation that the products of the College would, in turn, utilise their acquired knowledge and skills in the agriculture and technology base of the state.

“The dream and aspiration to have a College of Agriculture and Technology in our dear state has been resuscitated and this has been made possible through the Re-enactment Act of 2019 which resuscitated the school. It gladdens my heart that the college commenced operation on September 4, 2019 and it is gradually afoot with remarkable progress.

“It is a common knowledge that Ekiti is an agrarian state. Therefore, it is not by happenstance that Agriculture and Rural Development is one of the five pillars of our administration. As a government, we are walking the talk in the agriculture sector with the aim of ensuring food security and financially empowering our farmers,” he said.

While charging the pioneer governing council members to demonstrate creativity and commitment that would add value to the college, Governor Fayemi urged them to discharge their duties with all sense of “responsibility, diligence, fairness and honesty” as their appointment is a call to service and not “a call to keep up appearances at the detriment of the college and the state”.

Fayemi commended the efforts of individuals especially the former Deputy Governor of the State and now Chairman of the National Board for Technical Education, Prof. Modupe Adelabu for providing the support which has enabled the state government to revive the once abandoned College.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Governing Council and former Commissioner for Agric in the state, Mr Babajide Arowosafe, recalled Fayemi’s visit to the United States where it was discussed that the state could establish a College of Agriculture and Technology that would “service the country in the space of agriculture and be a legacy for Ekiti and Nigeria”.

Arowasafe, a former commissioner for Agriculture in the state, said the council would ensure that the College is run as an institution that will drive agro-business in the State and be a catalyst for food security in Nigeria.

The Arowosafe-led Council has Prof Simi Odesanmi, Nurudeen Ousman, Dr Tope Aroge and Mr Aroge as members.

•PHOTO: Governor Fayemi exchanging pleasantries with a member of the governing council of College of Agriculture and Technology, Isan Ekiti, during the council’s inauguration on Friday

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