IBADAN – The awards winning film maker and story teller, Tunde Kelani has commended Oyo state Governor, Engr Seyi Makinde over the transformation projects at Fashola Agribusiness Industrial Hub, stressing that the Governor has done so well by reclaiming the old glory of the western region through renovation of the moribund farm settlement.
Kelani who recently toured Fashola Agribusiness Industrial Hub, described the hub as paradise on earth, just as he also promised to release a documentary on the hub to compliment Oyo State Government’s efforts in projecting the hub to the world.
Tunde Kelani and another visitor, Professor of Agricultural Engineering, Prof Adewunmi Taiwo, were conducted round the facilities at the Fashola Agribusiness Industrial Hub by the Executive Adviser to Governor Makinde on Agribusiness, International Corporation and Development, Dr Debo Akande.
Professor Adewunmi Taiwo, who had in few years back in conjunction with Tunde Kelani done a documentary on how Fashola Farm settlement idea was conceived by the then Western Region Government under the late Sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and how it became a moribund asset due to negligence by the previous administrations before Governor Makinde picked interest in revamping it.
The duo of Tunde Kelani and Professor Adewunmi Taiwo expressed their joys ove the level of development at Fashola Agribusiness Industrial Hub.
While briefing journalists shortly after the tour, Kelani said, “I was talking about Fashola hub with my friends, some of them are late now, but I remembered Professor Taiwo Adewunmi and Tunde Adegbola were there that day and while at it, I smelt a story right away and we decided to do a documentary titled Ruga or No Ruga of the hub which came at a point when the whole country was agitated about farmers/herders clash.
“So, when I was invited for this tour, I thought it was just going to be a mere excursion, but coming here, this is like a paradise on earth and this gives me joy, it gives us a ray of hope that Nigeria can live again by starting all over again just like Governor Makinde did in Fashola hub.
“This is really commendable, I I really appreciate the Oyo state government for this laudable initiative.This is just like a continuation of the last documentary, because we’re going to write another story which is going to be a celebration at the end. This is a story that is going to perhaps be another catalyst for rapid development and progress around the sub region, and the country at large.” Kelani said.
In his response, Dr Debo Akande who also doubles as the Director General of Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency (OYSADA) he called on investors to come and invest their money in agribusiness value chain, stressing that the Fashola Agribusiness Industrial Hub is well secured.
He said, “There is Amotekun personnel at each of the gates of the hub, these officers are securing this place beyond that we have, we equally have what we call drone surveillance around the whole of Fashola that is constantly monitoring what is going on in this hub, the fact is that provisions has been made for security investment and life of people here.
“His Excellence Eng Seyi Makinde has provide security for all our investors here, that is why you see the private investors here have peace of mind within the hub and today am really excited as well because there’s nothing that is better to have a real account of what you don’t even know, because I was not even born before fashola was established, I don’t know how it was but Professor Adewunmi Taiwo that was lead here today and grown up here, that is father was one of the first employee into this place.
“These are eye witness account from individuals, this is the second year that we are planting maize, the private company is doing it, it is over 200 acres of maize planted, we all saw the cassava that has been harvested, when we are planting it, we mention it to the whole Oyo state that we are having a seed farm where early generation material of cassava will be planted and we have harvested them, farmers around have access to it, to grow different varieties of cassava and this will be providing high yields.
“Tomatoes are now growing all year round, we can invite anybody to come and see it, this is not season tomatoes, it is all year round tomatoes, the ability to plant tomatoes yearly that is what we called agriculture in business anywhere in the world, put technology and science to back up government policies, Gov Seyi Makinde has done exceedingly well in revamping this place.” Debo said.
Prof Adewunmi Taiwo, in his words said, “I feel so excited over the improvement in this place because you have taken me down the memory lane as a farm boy that grew up in the ranch here in Fashola hub. I spent my primary school days here and proceeded to high school education in Oyo and to USA for my university education. This place is going to send power out for economic development of Oyo state.
“Automatically, it’s going to replicate itself all over oyo state. I would love to do another documentary of this place, because it’s like a historical perspective of the first documentary I did of what this place used to be, being disappointed that the whole thing was allowed to go down and to eventually see the government bringing all those good things to life again, is a thing of joy for me. I left this place when I was about eleven years of age, seeing again now, I’m very elated.” Said the Professor.
Paul Agada, the National Project Director for Nigeria Cassava Growers Association, appreciated Governor Makinde over the structure being put in place at Fashola hub.
He said, “This is a workable farm estate because everything one needs is in this place. It’s a place where other State will emulate as Oyo State has set the pace for others to follow. I will give my feedback to the Governor of kogi state, commissioner for agriculture so that this can be duplicated in other states to solve hunger problem, insecurity problem which occured as a result of crisis between the farmers and herdsmen.
Segun Ilori, the National Officer of Nigeria Cassava Growers Association, also appreciated the importance that Oyo state government has attached to cassava production with it’s value chain in the state.
He noted that out of the 1,200 hectares of land in Fashola farm, the largest portion of it is given to cassava production. He implored other state government to emulate the idea and appreciates the brain behind it.
He said, “fencing round 1,200 hectares of land shows that there will be no invasion cattles and investors too will be at peace of mind.
Other stakeholders that accompanied Dr Debo Akande at the hub include, the Country Representative of ILRI, Dr Tunde Amole, the Chief Executive Officer of AgroInfotech Africa Mr Ayooluwa Okediji, among others.
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