The Nigeria Agricultural Cooperative Organization (NACO) has commended Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, for unveiling a comprehensive agricultural support package for 10,000 rice and cassava farmers across the state.
The organisation also acknowledged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s contributions to agricultural development and called on the people of Ogun State to support Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, in the 2027 governorship election.
The commendation followed Abiodun’s announcement of the support package during the 2026 World Food Day celebration held on Friday at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Abeokuta. The package includes 10 tractors, 1,200 Android phones, fertilisers, herbicides and improved cassava planting materials to boost food production and strengthen food security.
Speaking to journalists at the event, NACO Coordinator in Ogun State, Pastor Olatunji Abogunrin, described the large turnout of farmers as remarkable, noting that the attendance reflected growing interest in agriculture and the impact of government policies on the sector.
“Considering the World Food Day events we have organised over the years, we have not witnessed a turnout quite like this since we started holding these celebrations. This year’s event felt like a special occasion, and the massive attendance was truly encouraging,” he said.
Abogunrin attributed the turnout partly to the Abiodun administration’s efforts in agriculture, expressing appreciation to farmers and other stakeholders who came from across the state.
“I really appreciate our people who came out in their numbers. The good work our governor has done in agriculture has encouraged people, and we are happy to see farmers coming together to celebrate the progress being made in the sector,” he added.
He noted that the involvement of both the Ogun State and Federal Governments in agriculture was encouraging more people to embrace farming and improving their confidence in the sector.
Abogunrin also described President Tinubu as a friend of farmers, citing the provision of farm inputs, fertilisers and tractors as examples of support for agricultural production.
“You see, our father, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is a friend of farmers. The wisdom he applies in governing the country touches different sectors, especially agriculture. He has really helped people in farming through various forms of support, including farm inputs, fertilisers and tractors,” he said.
He added that NACO had benefited from federal agricultural programmes and expressed appreciation to the President for his contributions to the sector.
The coordinator also acknowledged Senator Adeola’s support for farmers and urged Ogun State residents to support his governorship ambition ahead of the 2027 election.
Speaking at the event, The governor of Ogun state,Prince Dapo Abiodun reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to transforming agriculture into a profitable, technology-driven sector capable of generating employment, attracting investment and strengthening Ogun State’s contribution to Nigeria’s food security.
He said the government had established the Ogun State Agricultural Land Management Agency (OSALMA) to facilitate access to land and promote a responsible and inclusive framework for large-scale agricultural investments.
According to the governor, his administration had completed 28 agricultural projects over the preceding two years, covering crop production, aquaculture and poultry, with investments in processing, storage, mechanisation and other essential infrastructure.
The projects include solar dryers, warehouses, cassava processing centres and a poultry processing plant at Ajegunle Farm Settlement in Odeda Local Government Area.
The poultry facility, he disclosed, has the capacity to process 5,000 birds daily, equivalent to approximately 1.3 million birds annually.
Abiodun further revealed that the state had procured 39 tractors, four self-propelled harvesters and other agricultural equipment to strengthen mechanisation and reduce the challenges associated with manual farming.
Highlighting the role of technology in modernising agriculture, the governor said the Ogun State Farmer Information Management System, launched in April 2023, had registered more than 160,000 farmers and other agricultural value-chain actors.
He explained that the platform supports evidence-based policymaking, improves the targeting of agricultural programmes and helps ensure that assistance reaches intended beneficiaries.
The governor also disclosed that more than 200 young people had recently received training in soilless farming through a partnership with Soilless Farm Lab, with start-up support provided to help them establish their own agricultural businesses.
“Our goal is to process more locally, retain greater value and create more jobs. We seek partnerships that create jobs, transfer knowledge, empower farmers and develop local capacity,” he said.
He called on investors to explore opportunities in commercial farming, agro-processing, livestock production, aquaculture, mechanisation, irrigation, storage and cold-chain facilities, assuring them of the state’s readiness to support responsible investments that create jobs and promote rural development.
Abiodun also highlighted achievements under the Ogun State Economic Transformation Project (OGSTEP), disclosing that agribusiness firms participating in the programme had purchased more than 283,000 tonnes of agricultural produce.
He added that farmers organised into clusters had received capacity-building support and connections to off-takers, helping them convert increased production into more dependable income.
The governor also acknowledged President Tinubu’s initiatives to strengthen local fertiliser production and improve farmers’ access to agricultural inputs, as well as the contributions of the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, to programmes supporting women farmers.
He pledged that Ogun State would continue to complement federal agricultural programmes through targeted assistance, private-sector partnerships and stronger market linkages.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Bolu Owotomo, described World Food Day as a reminder that access to nutritious and affordable food was fundamental to human dignity and sustainable development.
He stressed the need for innovation to build a resilient food system, calling for increased investment in women and young people through improved access to land, finance, training, technology and viable agribusiness opportunities.
Owotomo disclosed that more than 12,000 farmers had benefited from training and agricultural inputs under OGSTEP.
He explained that the latest support package focused on three major areas: digital empowerment through Android phones, mechanisation through agricultural equipment, and subsidised farm inputs for 2,000 rice farmers and 8,000 cassava farmers.
According to the commissioner, beneficiaries would contribute 30 per cent of the cost of the supported inputs, depending on their category, while the government would cover the remaining 70 per cent through its partnership with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
The arrangement is intended to make essential farm inputs more affordable while encouraging beneficiaries to participate actively in improving agricultural productivity.
Meanwhile, NACO members from all 20 local government areas of Ogun State attended the celebration in large numbers, showcasing agricultural produce and livestock from their farms.
The exhibition reflected the diversity of agricultural activities undertaken by members of the organisation, which comprises farmers engaged in crop production and animal husbandry.
Their participation highlighted the role of agricultural cooperatives in promoting food production, strengthening collaboration among farmers and supporting the development of the agricultural sector.
The celebration brought together farmers, government representatives and other stakeholders to highlight progress in agriculture and reinforce efforts to build a more productive, sustainable and food-secure Ogun State.
