The World Bank and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, via the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES), have praised Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State for his dedicated efforts to enhance livestock production in the region.
This commendation was extended during a two-day livestock production stakeholders engagement organized by the World Bank Task Team and the National Coordinating Office on the L-PRES Support Mission to Oyo State, held at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan.
The objective of the event was to facilitate the implementation of a $500 million World Bank Project by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, aimed at boosting the productivity, commercialization, and resilience of the livestock value chain.
Under the guidance of the Director General of Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency (OYSADA) and Chairman of L-PRES in Oyo state, Dr. Debo Akande, alongside the state Project Coordinator of L-PRES, Mr. Kola Kazeem, stakeholders visited a livestock production hub at Fashola Farm in Oyo to assess the state government’s commitment to livestock production, particularly in dairy and beef production.
Sanusi Abubakar, the National Project Coordinator of L-PRES, emphasized during a briefing with journalists after visiting Fashola Farm Settlement in Oyo town, that the project aims to expedite the implementation of the livestock program across Nigeria, following similar missions in Bauchi, Gombe, and Enugu states.
Abubakar highlighted the conducive environment provided by the Oyo State government for investment in livestock production, citing Fashola Farm as a prime example. He praised the state’s model of livestock production and emphasized the importance of creating such environments to attract investment and foster national development.
Mr. Kola Kazeem reiterated the mission of the project implementation team to support Oyo State in livestock production and development. He lauded Governor Seyi Makinde’s agricultural initiatives and highlighted Fashola Farms as a benchmark for other states.
Dr. Debo Akande, the Special Adviser to the Oyo State Governor on Agribusiness, International Cooperation, and Development, expressed confidence in the project’s ability to revitalize the livestock industry in Oyo State, addressing challenges faced by farmers with support from L-PRES and the World Bank.
The event was attended by representatives from the World Bank, including Dr. Manievel Emmanuel Sene and Chidozie Anyiro, as well as stakeholders from the livestock production sector and State Project Coordinators from beneficiary states.
The L-PRES, with support from the World Bank, aims to create an enabling environment, including infrastructure provision, to attract investors to the livestock value chain in Oyo State.