Ibekimi Oriamaja Reports.
The state, according to Edo State Governor Mr. Godwin Obaseki, was positioned to close at least a 20% supply gap in Nigeria’s oil palm market with the infusion of investment into the state under the Edo State Oil Palm Program (ESOPP).
The governor was quoted in a release as having said this while chatting with the business publication Africa Report. He said that the state government gave the growth of oil palm plantations top priority because the state has a comparative advantage in the cash crop as a result of years of hosting two companies listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, namely Okomu Plc and Presco Plc.
He asserts, “One of my campaign promises was to create jobs. It was evident that we needed to explore diversification given the unpredictability of the Nigerian economy and my experience working in investment banking.
One strategy to diversify the economy and create jobs in light of the growing population was to send young people to farms to assure food security.
He claimed that in order to boost output, the government is giving agriculture first priority and ensuring that people have access to land and extension services. “This led to the foundation of the Edo State Oil Palm Programme (ESOPP),” he stated.
According to him, Nigeria has a shortage of CPO and other products developed from oil palm. Many companies now import these feedstocks as a result.
“An oil palm plantation can be grown on roughly 350,000 hectares to address a supply need of about 650,000 mt. Through ESOPP, we have already begun farming 70,000 hectares in Edo, and we soon want to add another 20,000 hectares. This indicates that we are reducing the deficit by 20% with just 100,000 hectares.
The governor added that the state was willing to share its expertise on enhancing access to land and gaining financial resources with other states in order to enhance local capacity to fill the gap and hasten Nigeria’s economic diversification.
The Otaru of Igarra in the Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State, HRH, Oba Adeche Saiki II, hailed the state governor’s educational reforms over the weekend, saying they have set up public schools for greater performance and the generation of high-caliber students and kids.
During a luncheon organized for Mrs. Ozavize Salami, the chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board, the Igarra traditional chief said this (SUBEB).
He commended the governor for choosing Salami to head the board and complimented the chairman of SUBEB as a capable leader who has demonstrated his capacity for action.
Mrs. Ozavize Salami, the chairwoman of SUBEB, claimed that Obaseki was explicit about his objectives for education in the state when he nominated her to serve in that capacity.
