The Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, on Friday, disclosed that his administration has approved a whopping sum of N300 million to propel poultry farming in the state and create wealth for hundreds of youth.

The Governor posited that the set target of his administration, is to solidify the production base of the poultry farming, to be able to produce no fewer than 90,000 birds per cycle, and serve as veritable vehicle that can create wealth and viable employment for the populace.

Oyebanji spoke on Friday at the profit distribution ceremony for cohort 2 of the Ekiti State Broilers’ Production Scheme(EBOPS), held at Jibowu Hall, Government House Ground, Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State Capital.

The governor, represented by the Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, stated that the scheme, which started with a profit base of N19.4 million in cohort 1, has now spiralled to a sum of N77 million in cohort 2, describing this as a fruitful economic mileage that will bring development to Ekiti.

Based on the weight of its remarkable impacts on the populace, Oyebanji noted that the programme has demonstrated that agriculture is not only about feeding the nation, but about creating wealth and empowering populace.

The governor was upbeat that the Cohort 3, which is the next phase of the scheme, will recruit additional 200 young participants to raise 90,000 birds per cycle to further consolidate the state’s agro-industrial development.

Governor Oyebanji was optimistic that the new investment will bolster creation of more poultry production clusters across the three senatorial districts of the state

“Today, I am delighted to note that over 250,000 broilers have been successfully raised and over 250 youth have benefitted from the programme, who are direct beneficiaries, let alone the ancillary beneficiaries.

‘”As part of our commitment to sustain and expand this impact, I have approved N300m for the expansion of the scheme and the establishment of new clusters across the three senatorial districts”.

Oyebanji saluted the youth farmers for their patriotic zeal to catapult the state to food security status, saying their innovation was setting the state on a faster pace of economic prosperity and creating a new social order ahead of the future.

“To our participants, you are the face of a new Ekiti, who are innovative, industrious and future- oriented. I urge you to reinvest your profit wisely, build sustainable agribusiness and mentor others who aspire to follow your footsteps.

“Agriculture remains central to our economic transformation agenda. We will continue to support initiatives that bring dignity, income and hope to our young people”, Oyebanji pledged.

The Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Ebenezer Boluwade, said the programme is a celebration of the youth investment in poultry farming and sent a signal that the state has joined the league of big players in the sector.

Boluwade said to propel the programme, that the government swiftly refurbished six pens across the state, while additional ones were being established to create spaces for the farmers to operate unhindered.

“Since 2023 that we started, a total of 160,000 broilers have been produced with a target of 250,000 and more. Agriculture is central to the policy thrust of if this government. I want salute the poultry farmers for their dedication and sense of patriotism. You can now see that there is dignity in farming”.

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In his submission, the Chairman, Ekiti State House of Assembly Committee on Agriculture, Hon. Babatunde Fawekun, described the programme as a masterstroke and dedication of Oyebanji’s administration towards making agriculture the mainstay of the economy.

Fawekun revealed that as a demonstration of seriousness and steely commitment to the programme, that Governor Oyebanji injected the broilers’ farming into the 2026 appropriation bill, with upward improvement in financial allocation to the sector.

Applauding the scheme, the Chairman of the Ekiti State Poultry Association , Mrs Mary Olotu, added that many of the participants had their businesses waned and moribund before the governor stepped in to resuscitate their dead investments.

Mrs Olotu urged the farmers to rally support for the second term ambition of Governor Oyebanji, so that the good strides blowing across the sectors of the economy can continue unabated.

In his testimony, one of the participants, Mr. Femi Fagbemi, commended the governor for the landmark initiative, saying it has helped to revamp many moribund businesses and remove many youth from the unemployment market.

Fagbemi, however, appealed for the establishment of more poultry pens to expand the scope of production of poultry farming in the state.