Ooni of Ife decries untapped opportunities in agriculture, says ‘Nigeria has no reason to be poor’

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi Ojaja II, said on Monday that Nigeria has no reason to be poor considering the country’s agricultural sector opportunities.

Oba Ogunwusi, according to a statement issued by the Palace, spoke during his visit to a farming facility, Agbeyewa Farms in Ekiti State.

He commended the management of Agbeyewa Farms for its transformative efforts in Ekiti North, turning a once insecure area into a thriving hub for cassava cultivation.

The monarch praised the farm’s bold initiative to convert over 20,000 hectares of land into mechanised cassava plantations, describing it as a groundbreaking step toward redefining Nigeria’s agricultural landscape.

The Ooni said: “I’m here to see things for myself because seeing is believing. Agbeyewa has established itself as the largest cassava producer in Nigeria. There is absolutely no reason why we should be a poor nation.”

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He praised the management’s cultivation of drought-resistant cassava varieties as a model for innovation in agriculture.

“We cannot continue to farm with outdated methods. Agbeyewa Farms is showing us that innovation is not just an option—it’s a necessity. They are leading the way in proving that agriculture can be both profitable and transformative.

“Nigerians have often been wary of doing the hard part of agriculture, but it’s time we face these challenges. Our nation depends on it. I’m taking it upon myself to be a major advocate for combating insecurity in agriculture.

“The current administration is making progress, but we need to be more serious as a nation. We must unite and face these challenges head-on to secure a brighter future for agriculture and for Nigeria as a whole,” he added.

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