The Ekiti State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the agricultural sector through continuous capacity building for personnel, describing agricultural officers as critical stakeholders in the implementation of policies aimed at enhancing food security and sustainable development.

The Commissioner for Capacity Development and Training, Prof. Patrick Tedela, stated this on Wednesday at the opening of a two-day training programme for agricultural officers in Ado-Ekiti.

The training, themed “Repositioning Agricultural Cadres for Effective Agricultural Transformation, Food Security and Sustainable Development in Ekiti State,” was organised to equip participants with the knowledge and skills required to drive agricultural transformation in line with the state government’s development agenda.

Tedela said agriculture remained a major contributor to the state’s economic growth, food supply and rural livelihoods, adding that the government would continue to implement programmes and policies aimed at strengthening the sector.

According to him, agricultural officers serve as a vital link between government policies and farmers, ensuring the effective implementation of programmes designed to improve productivity, food availability and economic prosperity across communities.

“Officers in the agricultural cadres of the public service play a crucial role in the implementation and monitoring of government policies and programmes aimed at boosting agricultural productivity and ensuring sustainable food systems,” he said.

The commissioner stressed that the state government remained committed to investing in human capital development to enhance service delivery and achieve its food security objectives.

In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Capacity Development and Training, Mr. Bamidele Arowosola, described the training as a unique opportunity for participants to improve their professional competence and effectiveness.

Arowosola said the officers were carefully selected for the programme because of their strategic role in the agricultural value chain and the state’s development aspirations.

He noted that the responsibilities of agricultural officers were critical to achieving food security and food sufficiency in the state.

“The programme is designed to enable participants to upscale their knowledge, improve their competencies and enhance service delivery for the benefit of the agricultural sector and the state at large,” he said.

Also speaking, resource persons at the programme, including the Programme Manager of the Agricultural Development Programme (ADP), Mr. Bamidele Adegbola, and a former Permanent Secretary, Mr. Bayo Opeyemi, underscored the importance of continuous professional development for agricultural officers.

They said the training would strengthen participants’ capacity and reposition the sector towards achieving food sufficiency and sustainable agricultural development in Ekiti State.

Speaking on behalf of the participants, Mrs. Adenike Omoleye commended the state government and the Ministry of Capacity Development and Training for organising the programme.

She described the training as timely and impactful, noting that it had broadened participants’ understanding of contemporary agricultural practices, policy implementation and sustainable development strategies.

Omoleye assured that participants would effectively deploy the knowledge and skills acquired during the programme to support government efforts aimed at enhancing agricultural productivity, achieving food sufficiency and improving the livelihoods of farmers across the state.

The training forms part of the Ekiti State Government’s broader commitment to human capital development and improved service delivery in key sectors of the economy, particularly agriculture, which remains central to its agenda for economic growth, food security and sustainable development.