It’s Going To Be A New Dawn for Agriculture in Ondo State as Governor Aiyedatiwa Charts a Prosperous Path Ahead of 2026— Engr. Olaleye Akinola
Ondo State is steadily positioning itself for an agricultural renaissance as His Excellency, Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, through the Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Engr. Olaleye Akinola, rolls out bold, practical, and future-focused initiatives aimed at transforming the state into a thriving agro-industrial hub by 2026.
Speaking with journalists in his office recently, Engr. Akinola disclosed that, in a decisive move, the Governor has directed all Local Government Chairmen to prepare 500 hectares of land each for agricultural use. This directive was reinforced during a recent meeting at the state capital with all Agricultural Supervisors. According to him, the emphasis on early land acquisition is strategic, as land preparation remains the most expensive component of farming in the South-West, often gulping billions of naira if not properly planned.
He explained that to support large-scale cultivation, the Governor has approved the procurement of 20 tractors to be acquired between this year and 2026. This is in addition to ongoing efforts to trace and recover 25 tractors acquired about three years ago, ensuring that public investments are fully accounted for and effectively deployed.
Recognizing that production without preservation leads to waste, Engr. Akinola noted that the government is also confronting the challenge of post-harvest losses. He stressed that Ondo State will no longer tolerate situations where hundreds of hectares of maize are produced only to be sold cheaply by roadside vendors. Value addition and structured markets, he said, are now central to the state’s agricultural agenda.
He further stated that during a recent visit to Ose Local Government, plans were unveiled for the cultivation of 26 hectares of land under the MOJEC Agric initiative, with community surveyors already working on-site. MOJEC, originally known for electric metering, is diversifying into agriculture after facing an unconducive operating environment in Ogun State—an opportunity Ondo State has wisely embraced.
Engr. Akinola also revealed that the state government is engaging investors to revamp the state-owned eggs factory, which, when fully operational, will produce one million eggs daily. The initiative will be youth-driven, with young people organized into clusters to supply eggs to processing companies. MOJEC has already expressed interest in partnering on the project. To safeguard the state’s investment, the Governor has constituted a special committee to overhaul the eggs factory and ensure optimal performance.
To sustain such massive poultry production, he emphasized the need to establish feed mills, backed by large-scale maize cultivation. A recent visit to Nibalola Farms along the Ondo–Ore axis, currently the highest egg producer in the state, revealed that the farm consumes between two and four trailers of maize monthly, most of which is sourced outside Ondo State. This gap, he noted, presents a major opportunity for local farmers, with discussions on land preparation already underway.
Engr. Akinola also highlighted that Ondo State remains the highest producer of tomatoes in the South-West, attracting buyers from northern Nigeria, especially during the rainy season. Farmer clusters producing tomatoes and peppers for the Lagos market are being supported, while the government is working closely with tomato farmers’ associations to curb post-harvest losses. Where drying facilities are unavailable, attention is shifting to the Tomato Processing Factory at Arigidi-Akoko, which, once revived, will enable large-scale production and processing.
International interest in the state’s agricultural potential is also growing. Companies such as Veto-Way from the United States have showcased value-adding solutions and expressed readiness to invest in Ondo State. The overarching vision, Engr. Akinola said, is to transition Ondo State from a largely civil service–dependent economy into a vibrant agricultural powerhouse.
Further reinforcing this vision, he disclosed that MOJEC has submitted feasibility studies for feed mill development, with government assurances that the production of maize, soybeans, rice, yam, and livestock will be strongly encouraged—particularly among the youth.
On livestock healthcare, Engr. Akinola noted that Ondo State now boasts a world-class veterinary hospital in Ondo town, alongside another functional veterinary facility in Igbara-Oke. In addition, biodigesters are set to take off in Sango and Owo, areas that also host major sheep and goat markets. These initiatives, alongside new policies, form part of broader efforts to address farmer–herder conflicts and ensure peaceful coexistence.
In his closing remarks, Engr. Olaleye Akinola called on the people of Ondo State to continue to trust and support the administration of Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, describing the current initiatives as seeds planted in fertile soil that will germinate at the right time.
“Very soon, the dividends of good governance will become evident. The eggs factory alone is projected to generate over 20,000 direct and indirect jobs, and by 2026, Ondo State can confidently expect a future that is better—and the best yet.”