Director General of Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency (OYSADA), Dr. Debo Akande has expressed satisfaction with the progress of the ongoing developmental programmes at the Fasola Agribusiness Industrial Hub, saying the hub has become an attraction for both foreign and local investors seeking tourism opportunities and an educational resource for students of both tertiary institutions and secondary schools across the country.
Dr. Akande disclosed this while he welcomed Ghana’s former Minister of Food and Agriculture, Hon Muhammed Muniru Limu , to the hub for on-field assessment, with the intention of partnering with Oyo state in sustaining food security across West Africa and Africa at large.
Speaking with journalists after the field trip, Dr. Akande noted that the establishment of Fasola agribusiness industrial hub is a step towards fulfilling the primary objective of the state Governor, Engr Seyi Makinde which is to ensure food sufficiency as well increase the outputs of produce of local farmers across all the geo political zones of the state.
“The hubs are also there to support the smallholders farmers that are around these hubs and for it to serve as a center of excellence for learning, knowledge and for tourists and investors to see,” he said.
In his remarks, Ghana’s former Minister of Food and Agriculture, Honourable Muhammed Muniru Limuna, commended Governor Makinde for revitalizing the Fasola Agribusiness Industrial Hub and ensuring a welcoming environment for investors.
Speaking on the trip, Hon. Limuna said, “The essence of this trip is to establish a partnership with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and other stakeholders.”
He stressed the need to address the challenges facing agriculture in West Africa.
“We hope to discuss these challenges with IITA and visit some of their partner projects,” he said.
“This is a practical trip, not just theoretical. We believe these visits will answer many of the questions we have had since we came.”
