Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has stated the readiness of the state government to strengthen farmers’ cooperatives in the state so that they could go into cottage industries.
The governor, who expressed this readiness when the leadership of the State chapter of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) visited him, also said Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) are now being processed and made available within 45 days provided the applicants submit all required documents.
Fayemi said this in response to AFAN President’s request for speedy processing of Certificates of occupancy that the certificate would enable business owners, especially farmers who want to go into large scale farming, to assess credit facilities needed to float their business without stress.
The governor said his administration is in partnership with some agro-based companies especially the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture to raise some seedlings for the state’s agriculture sector and some tractor producing companies.
On the training of extension officers, the governor stated that the curriculum of the newly established College of Agriculture and Technology would be tailored to accommodate training of extension officers so that the new trainees can replace retiring officers in the Public Service.
He also added that government would in a couple of years construct 700km of rural roads through the Rural Agriculture Mapping Programme (RAMP) so that it would be easier for farmers to transport their goods from their farms to the market.
Earlier, the State President of AFAN, Mr Alagbada Adeniran, had implored government to give AFAN 10 units of tractors with full implements to enable them take agriculture from its peasantry practice to mechanized agro-business.
Adeniran urged the governor to address the challenge of shortage of agriculture extension officers; saying that their service is essential to the successful implementation of agricultural policies and programmes.
Meanwhile, Fayemi has disclosed plans by his administration to establish a Values Academy in the state as a way of restoring the lost core values which Ekiti people are known for.
The government’s decision was made known on Tuesday in Ado-Ekiti just as the Ekiti Council of Elders at a meeting with the governor urged him to “vigorously pursue” the restoration of Ekiti values and dignity.
The Council’s President, Prof. Joseph Oluwasanmi, who presented a copy of a book titled ‘Omoluabi’ to Fayemi, urged the governor to inculcate values orientation into the State’s schools curriculum.
“From time to time, we have been involved in advocacy to effect attitudinal changes towards imbibing and sustaining Ekiti core values.
“We remember with gladness your thrust during your first term to revive and sustain the Ekiti values and dignity; the slogan Ile Iyi, Ile Eye readily comes to mind. Your Excellency is prayed to graciously pursue this much more vigorously”, Oluwasanmi said.
Another elders statesman, Chief Deji Fasuan, also commended Fayemi for standing for the core Ekiti values of integrity, hardwork and excellence; saying that the undulating course which the State has faced in recent past “will now be faced straightforward”.
His words: “We knew you, we know you, we will continue to know you. Thank you for the courtesy extended to us, thank you for the help and the appreciation of the little we are doing for the environment. We know that you stand for the values which you and I, and all of us inherited. We have trekked a course undulating in the last few years, we hope the course will now be faced straightforward.”
Fayemi had in his remarks lamented the erosion of the values of the State; saying that the government planned to nip this in the bud by introducing values orientation into the civic education curriculum of primary schools in the State.
The governor, who commended the elders for their roles in the creation of Ekiti State in 1996, said though the state is not yet where it should be, the Fayemi-led government would not rest on its oars in ensuring that the State becomes the envy of all.
“The seat I occupy today is the result of the struggle of many of you here. We are not where we should be but we have made considerable progress. A lot of what you shared with us formed some of the pillars of this government”, he said.
While reacting to the request for the rehabilitation of Ado-Akure road, the governor explained that he had approached the African Development Bank for the dualisation of the road since the provision made by the Federal Government for the road was not adequate to dualise it.
