Gov. Oyebanji seeks US collaboration to develop Cocoa

Kunle Sanni

The Governor of Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji, has asked for cooperation and help from the US to strengthen the state’s vital economic sectors and carry out his administration’s vision for shared prosperity.

Governor Oyebanji specifically stated that Ekiti State wants the US government to assist its Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in developing Cocoa, as well as to work with Silicon Valley, the US technological hub, and the state’s knowledge zone.

During a meeting with a team from the American Embassy led by the Charge d’Affaires, David Green, on Tuesday in Ado-Ekiti, Governor Oyebanji revealed these details, according to the News newspaper report.

He stated that the state would investigate American knowledge, resources, and investment as a progressive partner in the areas of economy, security, climate change, and innovations.

During a meeting attended by the Consul General of the United States Embassy, William Stevens, John Olajide, the Chairman of CAVISTA Holdings and the Corporate Council on Africa, and other high-ranking embassy officials, the Governor of Ekiti State expressed his gratitude to the United States Government for their support in developing the state’s agricultural sector, particularly the Ikun Dairy Farm.

He clarified that the partnership is anticipated to improve the state’s economy, generate employment, and raise residents’ standards of living.

Governor Oyebanji emphasised that productivity is still the key to his administration’s economic strategy, saying that any state that wants to prosper has to be productive.

“If a state must prosper, that state must work on productivity and for productivity to happen there must be collaboration with the private sector.”, he added.

He listed a number of areas where the United States and other countries collaborate, including support for the agricultural sector, the Ekiti Knowledge Zone, youth and women’s empowerment, art and culture, health care, renewable energy, and the promotion of investment.

The governor, who stated that his administration is dedicated to promoting economic success and raising the standard of living for all residents, expressed optimism that the partnerships would also provide doors for advancement within the state. 

The governor pledged that his administration will keep creating favourable conditions for the private sector in an effort to transform the state into a centre of production and expand the state’s economy.

“The State thank you for your support and investment Ikun Dairy Farm. Ikun is a game changer, they have done so well, but they can do better, so we will be looking for support at feed formulation and artificial examination because that will solve the foreign exchange problem.”

The Governor said. Earlier in his speech, Charge d’Affaires David Green said that the US government was willing to assist the Ekiti State government in achieving its goal of economic growth and that the Embassy would look for possible areas of development where the US could assist in improving the state’s economic performance.

The Governor was reassured by the Ambassador that the US government is eager to find effective means of partnering with the state government, particularly in the areas of agriculture, health, and the knowledge economy, among other things.