The 3rd Annual Agbeyewa Traditional Rulers Retreat, themed, Driving Economic Transformation Through Sustainable Agricultural Development, has concluded with a unified call for strengthened rural security architecture, full implementation of structured ranching systems, improved land accessibility for agricultural expansion, and deeper collaboration among government, traditional institutions, academia, security agencies, and private investors.
The high-level retreat held at Ikogosi Warm Springs Resort and Conference Center, Ekiti State, convened prominent traditional rulers of Ekiti state , senior government officials, security agencies, academics, and agribusiness leaders to deliberate on strategies to enhance agricultural productivity, ensure rural safety, and unlock investment opportunities across Ekiti State.
Representing the Ekiti State Governor, H.E. Biodun Oyebanji, the Chief of Staff, Mr. Oyeniyi Adebayo, reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to the Shared Prosperity Agenda, emphasizing agriculture as a central pillar of economic growth. He highlighted ongoing efforts to attract strategic investments, expand infrastructure, and create an enabling environment for agribusinesses to thrive. He also commended Agbeyewa Farms and Cavista Holdings for their significant contributions to job creation, economic expansion, and internally generated revenue, while encouraging further investment in local processing and value addition.
His Imperial Majesty, the Ooni of Ife, Oba (Dr.) Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, CFR, called on traditional rulers across Ekiti State to foster investor-friendly environments within their domains. He emphasized the need for unity, proactive leadership, and the resolution of land-related disputes that hinder development. The monarch commended the role of private sector investments in transforming rural economies and described Agbeyewa Farms as a model for large-scale agricultural development capable of driving national progress.
Delivering the keynote address, the Vice Chancellor of Venite University, Professor Charity Aremu, underscored the importance of innovation in advancing agricultural transformation. She called for stronger integration of research, technology, and industrial processing to reposition cassava as a key driver of industrial growth, export competitiveness, and job creation. She further emphasized the need for collaboration between academia, farmers, and private investors like Agbeyewa Farms to reduce post-harvest losses and strengthen the agricultural value chain.
The Chairman of the Ekiti State Traditional Rulers Council, His Royal Majesty, Oba (Dr.) Samuel Adejimi Adu-Alagbado, the Ogaga of Ikere-Ekiti, highlighted the critical role of traditional institutions in mobilizing grassroots participation and facilitating land access for investors like Cavista Holdings. He stressed the importance of structured agricultural value chains, reliable off-take systems, and improved coordination among farmers to enhance productivity and ensure food security. He reaffirmed the collective support of traditional rulers for initiatives that drive sustainable agricultural development.
In his welcome remarks, Chairman of Cavista Holdings, Mr. Niyi John Olajide, reiterated the organization’s commitment to inclusive economic growth and long-term agricultural transformation. He emphasized that development must translate into tangible improvements in livelihoods through job creation, income generation, and community empowerment. He noted that Agbeyewa Farms was established to restore dignity to agriculture while driving large-scale rural development.
Also speaking, the Managing Director of Agbeyewa Farms, Oska Seyi Aiyeleso highlighted the company’s rapid expansion from 1,000 hectares to over 5,000 hectares of cassava cultivation, with a long-term target of 100,000 hectares under a formal agreement with the Ekiti State Government. He emphasized that sustained investment in agriculture depends on a secure environment, strong government collaboration, and active community engagement, while calling for continued support from traditional institutions to facilitate land access.
The Commissioner of Police in Ekiti State, Michael Falade Adegoroye, in his remarks, outlined ongoing multi-agency security efforts involving the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army, Department of State Services, Civil Defence Corps, Amotekun Corps, Agro-Marshals, and local vigilante networks. He noted that coordinated operations across forest corridors and boundary communities linking Ekiti with Kwara, Kogi, and Ondo States have significantly improved security outcomes.
Emphasizing the importance of intelligence-led policing, he described timely and credible information from local communities as the foundation for effective security response and crime prevention.
Discussions at the retreat also focused on the urgent need to address farmer-herder conflicts through the establishment of fully operational ranching systems across the southern, central, and northern districts of the state. Stakeholders noted that uncontrolled cattle movement continues to threaten agricultural productivity and rural stability.
Concerns over rural insecurity were also raised, particularly regarding the limitations of local security structures in confronting armed threats in forested areas. Participants emphasized that while community-based institutions play vital roles in intelligence gathering, the responsibility for tackling armed criminality lies with formal security agencies. Calls were made for the strengthening and proper equipping of agro-focused security outfits, including Amotekun and Agro-Marshals.
Across all engagements, stakeholders reached consensus on key priorities, including the full implementation of structured ranching systems, strengthened multi-agency rural security operations, enhanced intelligence sharing, improved land accessibility, and deeper public-private partnerships to accelerate agricultural transformation.
The retreat concluded with a renewed commitment to building a secure, innovation-driven, and investment-friendly agricultural ecosystem in Ekiti State, anchored on collaboration, trust, and shared prosperity.
source: Cavista Media