The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, on Monday, urged the Belgian government to invest in Ibadan’s vast arable land for large-scale agricultural production, stressing that the move would boost food production in Nigeria.
The monarch, who spoke through the Otun Balogun of Ibadanland, Tajudeen Ajibola, identified locations such as Egbeda, Ona Ara, Oluyole, Ido, Lagelu, and Akinyele Local Government Areas as suitable for large-scale production of agricultural products.
Olakulehin, who spoke through the Otun Balogun of Ibadanland, Tajudeen Ajibola, noted that there were vast hectares of arable land in Ibadan suitable and available for agricultural production which required international partnership funding and support to boost food production in the nation.
Earlier, the Belgian Ambassador to Nigeria, Pieter Leenknegt, disclosed that his government had been working on boosting cocoa production in Nigeria, and sought the Olubadan’s guidance for a successful tenure in office
The Belgian Ambassador said his visit was to tap from the experiences of the Olubadan and the council for a successful foray into Nigeria’s agricultural sector during his tenure in Nigeria.
“We have spent some days at IITA. Agriculture is one of the areas we are working on which is in line with the agenda of the current administration in the country. Cocoa production. We have the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria in Ibadan. Oyo state has been a major producer of cocoa.
With this call, the Olubadan has opened up new opportunities for Belgian investors to tap into Ibadan’s agricultural potentials, paving the way for enhanced trade and finance in the sector.
