Ekiti State Attracts $50 million Agriculture Investments

The Ekiti State Government’s drive to attract investment to the State has started to yield results, especially in agriculture, where various investors have finalized plans to site their production facilities in the State.

The State recently issued a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) to Stallion Group for a $10 million rice mill in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, while Dangote Group is also finalizing plans to locate a $5 million mill within the same location, which is now being seen as the rice processing hub of the State.

In the cassava value chain, FMS Farms is finalizing plans to set up a $10 million starch processing plant and farm in Ikole LGA, and has already commenced farming activities. In addition, Promise Point has also invested $15 million in its starch processing facility, within the same area, which has also been designated as part of the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone.
This is coming after the $5 million investment by Promasidor to renovate and operate the moribund Ikun Dairy Farm, and another $5 million investment by JMK Foods to build a rice mill in Ekiti State.

According to the Special Adviser to the Governor on Investment, Trade and Innovations, Mr. Akintunde Oyebode, the investments attracted to Ekiti are early results of the Government’s focus on building an enabling environment for business to thrive.

Oyebode said many of these investors only have to deal with the Ekiti State Development and Investment Promotion Agency (EKDIPA) to process their land titles and other requests. “By being responsive to their needs, and carrying out constant aftercare services even when they’re fully established, we are showing other investors that Ekiti is the place to be.”

He stated that the State is developing two special economic zones for Agro-Industrial activities and the knowledge economy, adding “apart from those investors who have already chosen Ekiti as a location to do business, we are seeing a lot of interest in the state.”

Oyebode said: “The recent reduction in Right of Way charges for telecommunication infrastructure was done to complement the planned Knowledge Zone; and to demonstrate a commitment to the digital economy.

“The Knowledge Zone will be anchored around talent produced by universities in Ekiti and its neighbouring states; a well planned mini city with residential housing and offices; and reliable infrastructure, especially power and broadband.

"The zone, when completed will be Nigeria’s first service based economic zone, attracting services like business process outsourcing, back office operations, data labelling, software development/engineering and startups focused on critical sectors like healthcare, education, agriculture and consumer markets.

“The Agro Industrial Processing Zone will include access roads to farms, irrigation systems to ensure all season farming, storage infrastructure to reduce post harvest losses, and independent power to enable processors optimise their output.

"Even in the early stages of the zone’s establishment, the State Government is in serious discussions with at least five large-scale processors keen to operate within the Zone.

“To ensure the gains of the current administration are institutionalized, the State’s Public-Private Partnership Law has been updated and is being reviewed by the House of Assembly, while a Mortgage and Foreclosure Bill have also been sent to the state House of Assembly for consideration.

“When both bills are passed into law, Ekiti will have best in class laws to protect private investments, and the legal framework to support the long overdue mortgage activity in the State.

“The Government is also embarking on a comprehensive Ease of Doing Business reform programme that seeks to ensure Ekiti is a top-5 state to do business by 2021.” Oyebode added.

Orchids for Erelu Bisi Fayemi at 57

By Segun Dipe

For the bold, brilliant and beautiful fashionista Erelu Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi, every June 11 is her day of celebration, for that is the day she was born. As she clocks 57 this year, and amidst the Covid-19 hoopla that has rendered the whole world socially isolated, the music she should listen to is “Groove Is in the Heart,” a song by the American dance band Deee-Lite. It was released in August 1990 as the lead single from their debut album, World Clique.

Yes, Erelu, as fondly called by folk, friends and admirers alike, deserves to be celebrated this year as always. She is grooving through life in diverse ways and phases. She has conquered her environment, yet remains humble. Covid-19 or no Covid-19, social distancing or no social distancing, this intellectually balanced lady has roundly paid her dues. She is well groomed, socially on point, spiritually upright and politically key.

Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi was born in Liverpool, England, on 11 June, 1963. She received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history from the University of Ife, now the Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria. She also received an MA in Gender and Society (1992) from Middlesex University, UK. Bisi Fayemi is the First Lady of Ekiti State Nigeria as wife of the Ekiti State Governor 2018-2022. She was also previously Ekiti State First Lady in 2010-2014. In 2001, she co-founded the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF), the first Pan-African grant-making organisation. She served as a UN Women Nigeria Senior Advisor, and was appointed as a Visiting Senior Research Fellow at King’s College, University of London in 2017-2018. She is CEO, Above Whispers Limited, and runs an online community called Abovewhispers.com.

Leymah Gbowee of Liberia, 2011 Nobel Peace Prize winner, delivered Bisi Fayemi’s 50th birthday lecture in 2013 titled “Leading the Change: The Journey of an African Woman.” She has this to say to her: “…Bisi, you have helped us to achieve change. You have used your position to sew dreams and show that change is possible and helped to set our minds to it. That I won the Nobel prize is because of people like you. That day, you didn’t see me. You saw a sister. Today we say, ‘Thank you’. You have helped to set our minds to it.”

So, our celebrant is globally acclaimed. She is an elite and a sophisticated one for that matter. Yet she is not comfortable with just sitting in such a comfort zone while watching others suffer. She doesn’t believe in the “we-versus-them” style of living. She has activism running in her blood and has earned global acclaims in that area. Recently, Bisi Fayemi was listed among the 100 leading women in Africa for her numerous contributions to feminism.

Prior to that, she had bagged various awards and recognitions such as the “Changing the Face of Philanthropy” award by the Women’s Funding Network in 2007. She was named one of the 20 most influential African women in 2009 by New African magazine. In 2011, _Women Deliver_ listed her as one of the top 100 people in the world, advancing the rights of women and girls. In 2019, she was awarded the 2018 Zik Leadership Prize for humanitarian Leadership by Public Policy Research and Analysis Centre (PPRAC).

So how do we celebrate such a heroine without having to break the banks? How do we make her know that her achievements and her influence on all of us without any stratification count? And to think we are forbidden from gathering in our thousands to groove the groove with our grand celebrant?

We must therefore come up with diverse ways to sing her praises, we must shower her with gifts of different kinds, shapes and sizes, we must gather through all sorts of social media makeshifts with a bid to literarily raise the roof and proclaim all she stands for to the world. We must sing, dance and pray. But, in all of these, some will still not resist that urge to want to see, feel and hug her.

Erelu is not just any soul. She is an exceptional soul, gifted with different kinds of leadership virtues in every area she has forayed. As the First Lady of Ekiti State, one may liken her to some of the First Ladies who have impacted their societies in no small measure. And I dare to mention the following FLOTUS.

Bisi Fayemi can be likened to Hillary Clinton, wife of William Jefferson Clinton, the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Hillary is the first First Lady to hold a postgraduate degree and a full-time professional career before becoming First Lady. She was one of her husband’s most trusted advisers in both the White House and on the campaign trail. She held offices in the East Wing and the West Wing. After her husband’s presidency, she became the first First Lady to hold public office when she was elected senator of New York. She later became Secretary of State under President Barack Obama and has run for the post of president twice. She was the first female presidential candidate nominated by a major party.

Bisi Fayemi can be likened to Eleanor Roosevelt, an inspirational first lady, who drastically changed the role of First Lady, travelling often and making many public appearances and speeches about children’s causes and human rights. Eleanor consistently spoke out against racism and sexism, she focused on helping the country’s impoverished people. Eleanor Roosevelt later became chair of the U.N.’s Human Rights Commission and helped write the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. She was assigned to the U.N. by President John F. Kennedy and was appointed to the National Advisory Committee of the Peace Corps and the chair of the President’s Commission on the Status of Women.

Bisi Fayemi can be likened to Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, wife of President John F. Kennedy. Jackie O, as fondly called, stands as the most beloved first lady in U.S. history. Not only were her style and grace admired, but she had incredible drive in her role in the White House. Onassis transformed the White House into a museum of American history and culture that would inspire patriotism and public service in those who visited. She was also a patron of the arts and frequent traveler with her husband, which earned her admiration from Americans and foreign citizens alike.

Bisi Fayemi can be likened to Michelle Obama, who served as FLOTUS alongside her husband, President Barack Obama, from 2009 to 2017. She was one of the most involved and passionate first ladies America has ever seen. Her drive to make a difference was unforgettable — and she had fun doing it. Some of her most significant accomplishments include founding Let’s Move! to combat childhood obesity, creating the Reach Higher Initiative to “[expose] students to college and career opportunities,” and empowering young women to get an education with Let Girls Learn.

Bisi Fayemi can be likened to Edith Roosevelt, a down-to-earth first lady who served as first lady from 1901 to 1909 as the wife of Theodore Roosevelt. Theodore was a seriously dedicated first lady, and she received love from many Americans. In addition to totally revamping the White House, she showed a true interest in helping those in need. According to the National First Ladies’ Library, “Her secretary recalled that the First Lady most frequently sent large gifts of cash to various free hospitals that treated the poor, instructing physicians to hand out cash sums to those being discharged.”

Bisi Fayemi can be likened to Rosalynn Carter, wife of the 39th president of the United States, Jimmy Carter. She took her duties as first lady seriously from 1977 to 1981, leading Americans to admire her hard work. She was an advocate for the cause of mental health, pushed for support of the Equal Rights Amendment, and was supportive of the arts — to name a few areas of her passionate work. Carter once referred to his wife as “an equal extension” of himself.

It is for these invaluable contributions that she deserves a unique, rare, yet much prized gift this year: Please let’s go out and gather orchids. Orchids don’t come easy. They are the most highly coveted of ornamental plants. Delicate, exotic and graceful, orchid represents love, luxury, beauty and strength. In the ancient Greece, orchids were associated with virility. During the Victorian era, orchid symbolism shifted to luxury, and today this sense of magnificence and artful splendor continues, with orchids representing rare and delicate beauty.

Orchids generally symbolize love and beauty. But in different colours, they also depict various qualities. Blue orchids represent rarity. Bisi Fayemi is a rare gem. Red orchids symbolize passion and desire, but can also symbolize strength and courage. Bisi Fayemi is a go-getter any day. Pink orchids symbolize grace, joy and happiness and can also symbolize innocence and femininity. Bisi Fayemi is ever joyful and ever happy. Proudly a feminist. White orchids represent reverence and humility, innocence and purity, and elegance and beauty. Bisi Fayemi is beautiful, both inside and outside. Her elegance is without parity.

Purple orchids symbolize admiration, respect, dignity and royalty. Bisi Fayemi, despite her acclaims, is humble and does everything with dignity. Yellow orchids represent friendship, joy and new beginnings. Bisi Fayemi makes friends with ease and is never afraid of a new beginning. Orange orchids symbolize enthusiasm, boldness and pride. Bisi Fayemi is not only beautiful, she is bold, enthusiastic and proudly a traditional person. Green orchids are thought to bring good fortune and blessings. They represent good health, nature and longevity. Bisi Fayemi’s naturalness is not doubtful. Her state of health is balanced and not only is her future guratenteed, she will certainly live long.

Happy Birthday to our own Erelu of Isan Kingdom, Ochiora of Imezi Owa, Enugu State, Yeye Ajiseye of Ado Ekiti, Iyalode of Ilafon Ekiti and Oluomo of Ilaramokin. Higher heights still.

Segun Dipe is the Senior Special Assistant to Gov. Fayemi on Public Communications.

AMOTEKUN NOT REGIONAL POLICE - FAYEMI

...as Southwest Governors restate commitment to Nigeria's Sovereignty at the launch of Western Nigeria Security Network

Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has dispelled rumours making the rounds that the newly launched Western Nigeria Security Network code-named Operation Amotekun is a regional police.

Fayemi who spoke in Ibadan at the launch of the security apparatus stated that the South west governors were not out to undermine the integrity and sovereignty of Nigeria but were providing the Yoruba people with a "confidence building strategy" to tackle crime and criminality in the region.

The governor added that Amotekun was neither an alternative to any of the conventional security agencies in the country nor a state police.

He said rather, Amotekun would complement and work in collaboration with existing security agencies to provide adequate security of lives and property in the region.

"The Western Nigeria Security Network operation Amotekun is nothing but a community policing response to a problem that our people would like to put an end to. But pending the time that the community policing strategy being put together by the Nigeria Police comes to fruition, it is clearly important that we give our people a confidence boosting strategy.

"So if you ask me, Amotekun is nothing but a confidence building strategy for our people in the western zone. When those elements that are going to work in the joint task force with the mainstream security agencies undertake this assignment, they are going to do it with the knowledge of the terrain, language and culture of the community they are going to work."

"Amotekun is not a duplication neither is it a replacement for the Nigeria Police Force. Amotekun is a complement that gives our people the confidence that they are being looked after by the people they elected into office. We do not want this to create fear in the mind of any one. We are not creating a regional police force. We are not oblivious of the steps we need to follow in forming a State police. We are law abiding citizens of Nigeria. We know that will require a constitutional amendment and we are not there yet", he said.

While commending the role played by the mainstream security agencies in tackling kidnapping and banditry in the zone, the governor said Amotekun would reduce the burden on the agencies which he described as "overstretched".

Fayemi who added that the security agencies have embraced the Western Nigeria Security Network urged Nigerians not to give room for fears which may have emanated from the propaganda circulating in the social media about Amotekun.

" We were daily assaulted by the spate of kidnapping, banditry, armed robbery across the length and breadth of the South West. We obviously sought succour in all the right places and the mainstream security tried their best in arresting the security situation. It was in the context of this development that we lost the daughter of our leader in Afenifere, Pa Fasoranti.
" As elected leaders of our various States, our primary responsibility according to section (14)2 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, is the security and welfare of our citizens and that's what informed the coming together of my colleagues and I to fashion a way that we can utilise to complement the work of our mainstream security agencies that are quite overstretched in their efforts to curb the menace that has afflicted not just our zone but the entire country at the time", he said.

In his speech, the Chairman of the Western Nigeria Governors' Forum and Governor of Ondo State, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu said the governors are united in their resolve to ensure peace and security in the region.

Akeredolu stated that the south west governors cannot erect "an antagonistic structure whose template is against existing security apparatus".

He said the " barbarism" displayed by criminal elements in the region gave the governors grave concern which necessitated the security platform.

The governor stressed that he and his colleagues believed in the unity of Nigeria because the nation's "strength is in unity".

Earlier in his welcome remarks, Governor Seyi Makinde had stated that development cannot take place in a state of insecurity.

He added that Amotekun would protect the lives and property of indigenes and non indigenes.

Osun State Governor, Mr Gboyega Oyetola who was represented by his Deputy, Benedict Alabi thanked the service chiefs for their support in tackling insecurity in the region.

He assured that Amotekun would work in collaboration with all security agencies

FUOYE Killings: NANS Apologises, Lifts 'Persona Non-Grata' Order Placed on Fayemi, Wife

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), has exonerated the wife of Ekiti State Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi of complicity in the killing of two students of Federal University, Oye Ekiti, during a recent crisis in the town.

The students' body also lifted the person non grata order placed on Governor Kayode Fayemi and his wife across all the the tertiary institutions in the country, describing the role the duo played in ensuring proper burial for the departed students and support for their families as commendable.

The students' body also tendered its apology to the first family for holding them responsible for the FUOYE killings, a development it considered unfair.

Two FUOYE students, Joseph Okonofua and Kehinde Dada were shot dead on September 10, 2019 during a protest that coincided with the visit of Mrs Fayemi to Oye Ekiti, which led to confrontation betwen policemen and students due to unruly and violent nature of the latter.

The killings , had forced the NANS to make a public statement directing students to henceforth treat Fayemi and wife as persona non grata in all Nigerian tertiary institutions .

However, in a communique by NANS' Senate President, Gambo Abubakar Mohammed and Clerk, Kabiru Mohammed after its Senate meeting in Ado Ekiti on Monday, said neither the state governor nor the wife knew anything about the death of the students.

The SUG President, Federal University, Lokoja , Kogi State moved a motion for the lifting of the order , seconded by SUG President of Niger State College of Education, Zakari Mohammed and was affimed by other Senators at the plenary.

Exonerating Fayemi and wife further, NANS said: "Ekiti State government has taken the responsibilities of paying for hospital bills of all injured students and for the burial arrangement of the deceased.

"The government also visited the deceaseds' families and compensated them while processing the employment opportunity two members of the bereaved families.

"We realized that it is time to move on and allow the sleeping dog lies in the interest of peace and love among all those that were involved".

The students appealed to Fayemi to fulfill his promises to those who suffered any form of calamity during the incident .

The Senators also lamented the death of a students' leader, Com. Yemi Adeniran, who died in a ghastly motor accident , saying the deceased did well as a member of the SUG during his lifetime.

Thurmieee:
no price

SenorFax:

Exactly my point, if Fayemi can borrow that in times of plenty.......