PRESS RELEASE

How Makinde's agriculture policies brought about innovations, food security in Oyo - Commissioner

Oyo State's Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Barr. Olasunkanmi Olaleye has stated that the policies of Governor 'Seyi Makinde towards improving the agriculture sector have worked well in bringing about necessary reforms and innovations in agriculture practice in the state.

He maintained that through the combination of technical services, infrastructure development and investments in human capital in the sector, the state has become a leader in agricultural innovations and food security in Nigeria.

Olaleye, who stated this on Thursday, at the opening session of an inter-ministerial press briefing organised by Governor Makinde's Media Unit, to commemorate the second anniversary of Omituntun 2.0, highlighted the achievements of his Ministry.

Olaleye noted that through these veterinary services, rural development, extension services, capacity building and infrastructure development programmes carried out by the Ministry, the state has emerged as a leading agricultural hub in Nigeria.

He pointed out the example of the impact being made by the Fasola Agribusiness Industrial Hub in the areas of attracting investments and becoming a model for other states of the federation and a point of attraction for the African Development Bank (AfDB) and other financial institutions for partnership.

He declared that through different efforts and policies implemented by the governor, the Ministry of Agriculture has successfully nurtured farmers and improved food production.

He added that the administration has also built the infrastructure and institutional capacity needed for sustainable agricultural growth in the state, such as the establishment of nine Farm Service Centres across the agricultural zones statewide and the renovation of eight strategic facilities across the state.

Olaleye said: "Under the governor's progressive leadership and his administration's dedication to agricultural excellence, our Ministry has recorded unprecedented successes across all sectors of agricultural development."

The governor's policy direction, financial support, and political will have created an enabling environment that has allowed us to implement transformative programmes that are directly impacting the lives of our farmers and rural communities.

"I wish to express our profound appreciation to His Excellency for his consistent support and to acknowledge the collective efforts of our dedicated staff, development partners, farmers, and all stakeholders whose collaboration has made these achievements possible."

The successes we celebrate today are a testament to what is achievable when leadership vision meets professional dedication and community participation.

“This report highlights our key accomplishments across veterinary services, rural development, extension services, capacity building, and infrastructure development - all contributing to Oyo State's emergence as a leading agricultural hub in Nigeria.”

“Our veterinary services have demonstrated exceptional commitment to livestock health protection through our strategic vaccination programme. We have successfully vaccinated 95,948 cattle against Anthrax and Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP), representing 80 per cent progress toward our ambitious target of 120,000 cattle.”

“This proactive approach has significantly reduced livestock mortality rates and protected farmers' investments while safeguarding public health through the prevention of zoonotic diseases.”

“In terms of regulatory framework, we have strengthened the agricultural sector through the development of crucial regulatory frameworks, including comprehensive guidelines and regulations for hatchery operations in Oyo State, standard operating procedures for poultry processors, and the Oyo State Trade Cattle, Sheep and Goats Law with detailed SOPs for livestock dealers.”

"These regulations provide clear operational standards that enhance productivity while ensuring animal welfare and consumer protection.”

“In the area of rural development, our rural infrastructure development programme continues to transform agricultural communities through strategic road construction projects totalling 87.53 kilometres across multiple local governments.”

“These include the FRSC-Okudi-Oyada road: 6.82 km in ATISBO LG; 4.37 km Market-Illa junction in Oriire LG; 8.85 km Adebayo Alata-Obembe, Aba Oje Road in Oluyole LG; 21.96 km Oloko-Oyo-Ikere Gorge Dam Road in Iseyin LG; 8.43 km Fasola Farm Settlement Road in Oyo West LG and the 37.1 km Alako-Idi-Iya-Batake-Olowa Farm Settlement Road.”

Explaining further, Olaleye noted that the government's agriculture mechanisation support programme has also seen it plough 13,077.10 acres for 2,827 farmers as of June 10th, 2025 under the Tractorisation Subsidy Programme.

“Our mechanisation support programme has achieved remarkable success, with 1,487 farmers benefiting from 50 per cent tractorisation subsidies in 2024, resulting in 6,090 acres of farmland being ploughed.”

The momentum continues into 2025, with 13,077.10 acres already ploughed for 2,827 farmers as of June 10th, 2025, as we work toward our ambitious target of 120,000 acres for the year.

“In the area of extension services, we provided 15 motorcycles to Extension Officers, dramatically improving their ability to reach farmers in remote areas.
Additionally, we conducted comprehensive training for both farmers and Extension Officers on the 2025 Seasonal Climate Prediction by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, ensuring climate-informed agricultural decision-making.”

“We have also significantly strengthened our technical capacity through the recruitment of 20 veterinary doctors and 141 agricultural officers across various cadres, ensuring adequate professional support for our expanding programs and services.”

“In the area of input distribution to support agriculture enterprises, our comprehensive input distribution programme reached thousands of farmers: soybean seeds to 920 farmers, maize seeds to 3,541 farmers, cassava stems to 1,269 farmers (covering 47,587.5 acres with potential to produce 214,143.75 tons of cassava tubers), knapsack sprayers to 1,980 farmers, and herbicides and pesticides to 2,500 farmers.”

“We distributed quality inputs to diverse livestock farmers: 1,150 fish farmers received 3 bags each of 15kg quality fish feed; 2,536 cattle, sheep, and goat farmers received nutritional supplements including 253,600kg of wheat offal, brewery dried grains, salt licks, and disinfectants; 3,740 poultry farmers received 8 bags of 50kg maize grains each; and 1,028 pig farmers received palm kernel cake and disinfectants.”

“Our massive distribution of 65,000 bundles of cassava stems to 1,269 farmers demonstrates our commitment to food security, with projections showing potential production of 214,143.75 tons of cassava tubers from 47,587.5 acres of newly planted farmland.”

"We provided microloans to 3,501 smallholder farmers with soft loans ranging from ₦50,000 to ₦800,000 per beneficiary, enabling farmers to expand their operations and improve their livelihoods.”

"Our capacity-building initiatives reached 3,830 individuals across various agricultural enterprises:
"We also trained 62 rural farmers in modern agricultural practices at the Oyo State-IITA Youth Agribusiness Incubation Centre in Aawe, providing them with both knowledge and land allocation for practical application.”

"In conclusion, these achievements represent a comprehensive approach to agricultural development that addresses every aspect of the value chain - from input supply and production support to processing, marketing, and capacity building.”

"Our programmes have directly impacted tens of thousands of farmers while building the infrastructure and institutional capacity needed for sustainable agricultural growth in Oyo State. The combination of technical services, infrastructure development, and human capital investment positions our state as a leader in agricultural innovation and food security in Nigeria."

Earlier, the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Olanike Adeyemo, who declared the session open, appreciated the people of the state and the media for their support for Governor Makinde's administration since its inception.

She assured that the government would continue to prioritise and serve the interests of the people.
Also in his welcome address, the Special Adviser on Media to the governor, who also doubles as the Chief Press Secretary, Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, said the inter-ministerial press briefing was organised to enable Commissioners and Heads of Government Departments and Agencies give account of their activities in the last two years and to explain how the efforts have impacted on the lives of the citizens.

Signed
Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju
Special Adviser (Media) to Oyo State Governor
June 19, 2025.

*The irony of “primitive” versus “civilized” lifestyles - a sickening knowledge gap.*


Most of the chronic diseases troubling Nigerians today didn’t come from our soil.

They came from our silence.
From the things we stopped eating.
From the foods we abandoned in our pursuit of status.

We had everything.

Bitterleaf and ogbono.
Acha, ofada, tigernuts, baobab, African oil bean, locust beans.
We fermented, roasted, sun-dried, and slow-cooked meals that healed the gut and kept the liver sharp.

But somehow, someone convinced us that the very foods that kept our ancestors alive for thousands of years down to us were dirty, local, primitive, and “not balanced.”

And that’s where the problem began.

Walk into most homes in Lagos or Abuja today and ask a child, “What did you eat for breakfast?”
The common answers? Bread and tea. Cornflakes and milk. Chocolate-spread sandwich.

Pap, yam and oil, abacha, moi moi, or okpa have now been reduced to “village foods”.
Yet these were the same meals that built strong teeth, fertile wombs, and clean arteries for generations.

So what really changed?

It wasn’t just colonialism, it was ‘mental colonization’.
The kind that continues today through food ads, Western medical policy templates, and shelves stacked with boxed and packaged meals.

And now we’re seeing the results:
confused diets, weak immunity, hormonal disruption, stunted metabolism, and chronic inflammation from childhood.

We’ve even changed how often we eat and operate out lives.
People now eat three to four times a day while moving less than 1,000 steps daily.
They wake, sit in traffic, sit at work, get home, sit again, and still believe they must eat something every few hours to “stay strong.”

Our ancestors walked to the streams, tilled the ground, fetched firewood, ground melon with stones, and trekked to markets on foot.
Their meals were earned. Their digestion was natural. Their energy, clean.

Today, we mistake laziness for luxury.
We stop our children from sweating and call it love.
We buy them sugar-coated snacks, fast foods, and flavoured drinks thinking it’s care.
Meanwhile, prediabetes, insulin resistance, and fatty liver are already developing quietly in many under-18s. We’ve potentially reduced live-spans of our children without knowing.

Open the average Nigerian fridge today.
Soda. Instant noodles. Sausages. Ice cream. Bread. Yoghurts with corn syrup. Chocolates.
All, ultra-processed. All, pro-inflammatory. All, slowly damaging the brain, liver, and gut microbiome.

Professor Carlos Monteiro, from the University of São Paulo, coined the term “ultra-processed foods” in 2009.
He warned that these items are not merely unhealthy, they are industrially modified substances designed to be addictive and nutrient-empty.

And he was right.

In 2023, The British Medical Journal published a sweeping review of 45 meta-analyses covering 9 million participants.
The results?
Clear associations between ultra-processed food consumption and 32 major health problems, including cardiovascular disease, depression, type 2 diabetes, and premature death.

But in Nigeria, these same foods are branded as ‘premium’.
Imported equals ‘superior’.
Processed equals ‘civilized’.
And native equals ‘backward’.

Even worse, our policymakers follow the same logic.

Most African dietary guidelines are borrowed from the U.S. Food Pyramid or British medical templates.
We wait for WHO, CDC, or USDA to validate the food growing in our backyards.
We ignore the science our grandmothers lived by, science rooted in soil, in climate, in memory.

This is not just a public health issue.
It is a cultural amnesia.

The late Prof. Catherine Acholonu once said, “Our ancestors did not just eat to fill their stomachs they ate to align with nature.”
That’s not superstition.
That’s bio-adaptive nutrition.
That’s metabolic intelligence passed down across time.

And yet, we now look for imported keto kits, foreign wellness apps, and pharmaceutical supplements to solve problems that our food heritage already knows how to prevent.

Dr. Barry Popkin of the University of North Carolina described this global shift as the ‘Nutrition Transition’.
He divided it into five stages.
Africa, right now, is in Stage 4—marked by excessive sugar, seed oils, refined flour, and sedentary living.
What comes next is an epidemic of degenerative diseases.

So let’s be clear:
We’re not just eating wrong.
We’re thinking wrong.

You don’t eat what’s trending, you eat what your DNA understands.
You eat to reduce inflammation.
You eat to support your organs, not to stuff your fridge.

And when sickness finally knocks, the options are fewer.
That’s why prevention is no longer advice, it’s survival.

Self-care is no longer luxury, it’s a return to memory. A return to nature, to our ancestral food heritage.

The healthiest food you can ever eat is the food your ancestors survived on for thousands of years.
It’s coded in your enzymes.
It’s aligned with your gut flora.
It’s built into your bones.

Eat with sense. Not with shame.
Protect your children from food confusion and potential shortened live-spans.
Let them grow up knowing that agidi is not lesser than croissant, and that ogi can nourish better than milk from a tin.

We don’t need another diet plan.
We need cultural clarity.
We don’t need to import everything.
We need to remember what kept our ancestors living strong and gave them longevity.

Because what kept us alive for 1,000 years is not backward,
…it’s what will save us now.

Stop blaming your genotype.
You’re AA — not invincible.
Malaria every 2 weeks is not “normal.”
It’s your immune system waving a white flag.
Loudly. Repeatedly.
And you?
You’re out here buying malaria drugs like it’s weekly groceries.
Let me break it to you:
Your problem is not mosquitoes.
It’s your nutrition.
It’s your gut.
It’s your ignorance.
I’m AA.
Haven’t used meds in 2 years.
Still breathing. Still bouncing.
So no — frequent sickness is not “genotype.”
It’s bad living, poor food, weak immunity.
Fix it before your body fixes you.

Amaranthus viridis (Tete abalaye in Yoruba) is an annual, erect plant which can reach a height of 20–90 cm, branching weakly especially in the upper half. The leaves have entire margins and they are ovate to trapezoid in shape. The inflorescences are terminal and axillary spikes; there are also bunches of flowers at the axils. Amaranthus hybridus is the commercial amaranth widely cultivated all over Nigeria. It is a robust, heavy-branching plant that can reach a height of one metre or more in permissive environments. The leaves are broad, ovate and closely-packed on the main stem and branches making it a typical leafy vegetable. The inflorescences are terminal and axillary as in A. viridis.

The story of the amaranths of our land is not complete without the mention of Amaranthus spinosus (dagunro, in Yoruba). This species is a relative of A. viridis and studies have shown that they interbreed and have indeed produced hybrids one of which is known as Amaranthus lividus and a host of other intermediate plants that combine the characters of A viridis, A. spinosus and, in waste places close to eateries, A. hybridus. The tell-tale character for a plant carrying the genes of A. spinosus is the spine in the centre of the axillary cluster. People who pick A. viridis should watch for spines, even if weak, as a marker to avoid picking plants that have the genetic content of A. spinosus. A spinosus is however a medicinal plant in its own right.



Let us look at some health benefits of eating Amaranth leaves.

Amaranth leaves are a storehouse of essential phytonutrients and antioxidants which help to reduce inflammation in the body and provide an extra boost of nutrition to one’s health.


High in fiber.

They are rich in soluble and insoluble fiber. Eating fiber helps us to reduce weight and ward off heart disease as it lowers the cholesterol in the blood. Amaranths are high in protein and fiber, both of which may help reduce appetite and increase weight loss.

Good for anemics

Iron is needed for producing red blood cells and cellular metabolism. Reap maximum benefits of this powerful punch of iron that amaranth leaves provide by adding some source of vitamin C as it facilitates maximum absorption of iron in the blood. So, you could add a dash of lemon or have the amaranth leaves dish with a glass of fresh orange juice.

Rich in Vitamin A

Amaranth leaves are rich in vitamin A. They are also full of flavonoid polyphenolic antioxidants like beta-carotene, zeaxanthin and lutein which provide a protective layer against oxidative stress caused by free radicals. Vitamin A is also needed for healthy skin and proper vision.

Rich in Vitamin K

This vitamin is needed for good bone health and also plays an important role in blood clotting. It promotes osteoblastic activity and strengthens bone mass. Also, it is beneficial for those who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease as it controls the neural damage done in the brain.


Rich in B Vitamins

Amaranth leaves are replete with vitamins of the B group: folate, riboflavin, niacin, thiamin, vitamin B6 and others are all found in this leafy green. They help prevent birth defects in new-born babies and are needed for optimal mental and physical health.

Rich in potassium

The leaves of this wonder plant are full of potassium. The element is needed for good cardiac health. It also controls heart rate in the human body.

Amaranth is gluten-free

The seeds of amaranth plant are used as a grain and can be ground to be made into flour. This is protein-rich flour entirely gluten-free, so it is incredibly beneficial for those who have gluten intolerance.

Rich in protein

Related News
Amaranth leaves and grain are rich in protein, leaving behind even oats as a protein-rich grain.

Receiving protein from a plant source is considered much healthier than obtaining it from an animal source as the former has no or much less fat and cholesterol. Having a protein-rich diet leads to suppression of hunger as they reduce insulin levels in the blood and keeps one feeling satiated.

Amaranth leaves have lysine

Amaranth leaves have lysine, an essential amino acid needed for energy production and absorption of calcium. It also promotes hair growth and good skin. Those who suffer from hair loss or greying will benefit significantly from eating amaranth leaves.

Reduces bad cholesterol

Amaranth leaves are known to lower the bad cholesterol responsible for many cardiac problems.

Rich in calcium

They are rich in calcium and thus beneficial for those suffering from osteoporosis and other bone health problems related to deficiency of calcium.

Easy to digest

Amaranth leaves are offered to those convalescing after an illness or those fasting as they are easy on the digestive system. They are helpful in treating diarrhoea and haemorrhages. Regular consumption has been known to benefit digestion.

Fights cancer

This is because they contain flavonoids that have anti-cancer properties. A study shows that flavonoids can prevent the occurrence of cancer cell division thus showing promise of reducing cancer risk by about 34 per cent.

Amaranthus viridis however has higher medicinal values, a decoction of the entire plant is used to stop dysentery and inflammation.
The plant is an emollient and vermifuge. The root juice is used to treat inflammation during urination. It is also taken to treat constipation.

Yellow and green dyes can be obtained from the whole plant.

The leaves are diuretic and purgative and used as poultices (fresh or as dried powder) to treat inflammations, boils and abscesses, gonorrhoea, orchitis and haemorrhoids.

Amaranthus viridis is used as traditional medicine in the treatment of fever, pain, asthma, diabetes, dysentery, urinary disorders, liver disorders, eye disorders and venereal diseases. The plant also possesses anti-microbial properties.

In Nigeria, an infusion of the whole plant is used to purify the blood and the pounded root is applied against dysentery. In Côte d’Ivoire, the sap is used as an eye wash to treat eye infections and for treating convulsions and epilepsy in children. In DR Congo, the sap is said to act as a vermifuge, being effective against filaria, as an emmenagogue and to relieve heart troubles. The leaves are believed to have febrifugal properties. Ash of Amaranthus viridis plant is rich in soda and occasionally used to make soap.

Amaranthus viridis has been used in Indian and Nepalese traditional system to reduce labour pain and act as an antipyretic (Kirtikar and Basu, 1987). The Negritos of the Philippines apply the bruised leaves directly to eczema, psoriasis and rashes etc. (Quisumbing, 1951).

Other traditional uses range from an anti-inflammatory agent of the urinary tract, venereal diseases, vermifuge, diuretic, anti-rheumatic, antiulcer, analgesic, antiemetic, laxative, improvement of appetite, antileprotic, treatment of respiratory and eye problems, treatment of asthma (Anonymous, 1988; Arshad and Khan, 2000).

Furthermore, the plant possesses antiproliferative and antifungal properties as well as production of ribosome inactivating protein, β-carotene (Kaur et al, 2006; Sena et al, 1998) and antiviral activities (Obi et al, 2006).

Due to the fact that Amaranthus viridis (Tete abalaye) has a higher medicinal value, I will go for it anytime any day.

The Day Your Trolley Became a Coffin With Wheels.
People think poverty is dangerous.
But have you seen what new money does to people?
They finally make some change…
And boom — the supermarket madness begins.
3 loaves of bread.
A pack of “milk” that has never met a cow.
Carbonated drinks lined up like AK-47 bullets.
Biscuits, ice cream, seed oils, fruit juices, doughnuts.
It’s not enjoyment.
It’s a soft suicide.
Dressed in packaging.
Meanwhile, with the same money…
They could buy sweet potatoes, eggs, beef, liver, ogufe, green veggies, real food.
But no.
Processed sugar is now “luxury.”
Poison is now the reward for hustling.
Let me say it loud for those forming “soft life”:
Don’t use your money to kill your family.
Wealth is not wealth if it buys you diabetes and gives your child asthma.
Prioritize real enjoyment:
— Health.
— Energy.
— A body that obeys you at 60.
— A child that isn’t always sick.
Because the truth is…
The more money you make, the more intentional your nutrition must become.
Don’t let your shopping cart be the reason your child is on drugs before age 12.
Don’t let that be your legacy.
I come in peace.
But also, with protein.