“I Will Reignite Ekiti’s Old Glory In Agriculture, Education,” – Gov Oyebanji, Opens Fourth Trade Fair

By Ayodele Oni

Ekiti state Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, on Wednesday declared open the fourth Trade Fair in Ado Ekiti with a promise to devise means to reignite the state’s old glory in agriculture and education that earned it being classified as the Food Basket of the Southwest and Fountain of Knowledge.

Oyebanji described farming, skill acquisition, small and medium scale enterprises, as well as  education, as magic wands being deployed by government to collaborate, network and open a vista of opportunities for the people at the grassroots for businesses to grow exponentially.

The 2024 trade fair holding at the Trade Fair Complex in Ado Ekiti attracted  investors, farmers, artisans, manufacturers, captains of industries and entrepreneurs to showcase their products to the world, with many of products being sold at  discounted prices.

The governor, represented by the Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs)  Monisade Afuye, observed that Ekiti made remarkable headways in farming and education in time past, promising to overhaul the sectors to restore the lost glory through huge investment in these thematic areas of the economy.

He assured that his administration would continue to engage captains of industries locally and internationally to make Ekiti the first destination of choice in investment to diversify the economy away from the monolithic civil service structure.

“These we are going achieve by providing enabling environment that supports entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship in order to take Ekiti to new heights in terms of viable economy among the comity of states in Nigeria and Africa as whole.

“Partnering critical stakeholders was  part of measures to redefine Ekiti economy through partnership, innovation and collaboration with necessary stakeholders in industry, commerce and agriculture.

“In actual fact, this was part of my administration’s commitment to boost the state economy and achieve the mantra of my government, which is shared Prosperity for all the citizens”.

Lending credence to Oyebanji’s position, the Commissioner for Trade, Industry, Investment and Cooperative, Mrs Tayo Adeola,

said the programme was designed to bring about economy growth by attracting investors and showcase Ekiti to the whole world with a promise that the trade fair would now be holding on annual basis.