The Ijebu East Central Local Council Development Area of Ogun has acquired 50 hectares of land from the state government to boost youth participation in farming in area.
Mr Adebayo Osikomaya, the Executive Chairman of the council, made this known on Monday in Ogbere while receiving members of Ogun House of Assembly Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, who were on an oversight visit.
He said that there a need to engage the people of the area, particularly the youth, in agriculture, as part of efforts to boost the economy of the area and the state in general.
Osikomaya said that the council wanted to depend less on allocations from the Federation Account, adding that it had, therefore, put in place some measures that would boost its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
“We want our youths and the people of the council to venture into agriculture; that is why we have acquired 50 hectares of land from the state government to encourage our people to go into farming.
“The dream of our council is to be self-sustaining, while depending less on federal allocations.
“Besides, we have started the street-naming initiative, which will bring more revenue and development to our local government,’’ he said.
Osikomaya pledged that the council would consolidate on efforts to fast-track its economic diversification, particularly through agriculture and other revenue generation ventures.
Responding, Assemblyman Olusola Sonuga, Chairman, Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, urged the council to adopt the Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) approach in executing some of its ventures that were aimed at boosting its IGR.
Sonuga also underscored the need to diversify the economy of the council area by placing emphasis on agriculture as well as agro-allied products and services.
“This will empower the rural people and generate more resources for the running of the council,’’ he said.
He commended the council for its agricultural project, saying that it would aid efforts to tackle the menace of unemployment in the area.
