Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to youth-driven agriculture, describing farming as a profitable business capable of creating jobs, boosting food security and driving inclusive economic growth.

The governor made the remarks during the presentation of cheques totalling ₦1 billion to young farmers under the state’s Bring Back the Youth in Agriculture programme for the 2025 harvest season. 

The event, held at the Osuntokun Pavilion, Government House, Ado-Ekiti, rewarded about 4,657 youths, each receiving between ₦500,000 and ₦1.5 million from the programme’s profit.

Represented by the Chief of Staff, Mr Niyi Adebayo, Governor Oyebanji stated that the initiative aligns with his administration’s shared prosperity agenda, noting that youth participation in agriculture has contributed to job creation, poverty reduction and improved food sufficiency in the state.

He described the cheque presentation as more than a ceremonial exercise, but a clear signal that agriculture is no longer a vocation of last resort. 

According to him, the programme proves that with the right support, training and access to resources, young people can become successful agripreneurs and employers of labour.

The governor urged beneficiaries to reinvest their earnings in expanding farm operations, adopting modern technologies, and strengthening sustainable agribusiness models, stressing that the current success should mark the beginning of even greater achievements.

“When we launched this programme in 2024, our goal was to deliberately re-engage young people in agriculture as a profitable venture. 

Today, that vision has produced measurable results,” he said, adding that participation has grown from 911 youths in 2024 to nearly 5,000 in 2025, representing over 500 per cent growth.

He further revealed that total profits increased from ₦145 million in 2024 to ₦1 billion in 2025, a 700 per cent rise, while recent National Bureau of Statistics data shows Ekiti among states with the lowest month-on-month food inflation.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Ebenezer Boluwade, attributed the programme’s success to sustained government support, including the establishment of 12 farm hubs, the free clearing of over 5,000 hectares of land, the provision of security, dormitories, buses, and solar-powered facilities across the farm clusters.

Goodwill messages from the Ekiti Development and Investment Promotion Agency and the Ministry of Youth Development highlighted the programme’s contribution to the state’s internally generated revenue and private-sector confidence in its agricultural economy.

Speaking on behalf of beneficiaries, participants praised the government for providing modern tools, infrastructure and an enabling environment that allowed young farmers to thrive.

Source: Ekiti State Government