Ooni backs Agbeyewa model to tackle insecurity, joblessness
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has urged the Federal Government to adopt the Agbeyewa Farms model in Ekiti State by converting vast forest areas into farmlands as a strategy to address youth unemployment, insecurity and food insecurity.
The monarch said the establishment of Agbeyewa Farms in parts of Ekiti North Senatorial District, where kidnapping had previously been prevalent, had significantly reduced criminal activities and should be replicated across the country.
Oba Ogunwusi spoke in Ikogosi Ekiti on Thursday during the 3rd Annual Traditional Rulers’ Retreat themed “Driving Economic Transformation through Sustainable Agricultural Development,” organised by Agbeyewa Farms, an offshoot of Cavista Holdings.
He noted that communities such as Ipao Ekiti, Gede Ekiti and Iyemero Ekiti, previously identified as high-risk security corridors due to their proximity to neighbouring states, had experienced improved security following large-scale agricultural investment in the area.
“The Ooni hailed the Chairman of Cavista Holdings, Niyi Olajide, for the investment, food production initiative and job creation opportunity, which had made Agbeyewa Farms one of the biggest cassava farms in the world.
“Ekiti North, at some point, was filled with bandits. But Agbeyewa Farms pushed them away. So we want the same all over the country, even in the North.
“If we have capacity development initiatives like this, where are we going to have bandits in our various lands? So it’s a very good test case for even the government of our country right now,” he said.
He also commended traditional rulers in the affected communities and the Ekiti State Government for creating an enabling environment for investment to thrive.
Ogunwusi stressed the need for value addition to land resources to drive economic development and youth empowerment, urging monarchs to encourage more investment in their domains.
“If we don’t add value to land, how will things be possible in terms of economic development and youth emancipation? We need a lot of industries to spring up,” he said
The Chairman of Cavista Holdings, Olajide, said the company’s investments were aimed at job creation, food production and economic transformation, adding that thousands of people were currently employed at Agbeyewa Farms in Ekiti State.
He said, “We all want Nigeria to progress. We want it to industrialise. But we cannot industrialise as a country if we don’t have a successful, large, mechanised, commercial agriculture system.
“So, we are making our own contributions to create value and transform lives in Nigeria by investing in agriculture.
“Our investments at Agbeyewa Farms in Ekiti North have helped create opportunities and addressed insecurity issues there.”
Olajide disclosed that the acquisition of Matna Food Limited in Akure in January 2026 was aimed at expanding cassava processing capacity, strengthening the value chain and improving market access.
“With this acquisition, we are investing heavily in the company to grow capacity, expand opportunities for farmers, support food security and create sustainable employment across communities,” he said.
He added that agriculture remained a key driver of job creation, enterprise development and economic growth.
The Chairman of the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers and Ogoga of Ikere Ekiti, Oba Adejimi Adu-Alagbado, commended the investment, noting that Agbeyewa Farms’ offtake arrangement had encouraged cassava cultivation in the region.
Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, represented by his Chief of Staff, Niyi Adebayo, also lauded the investment, saying it had boosted job creation, internally generated revenue and the state’s economic output. (Punch)
