Ekiti State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to creating a secure and investor-friendly environment for agribusiness, as the Mastercard Foundation and IDH Netherlands conducted an assessment visit to the state’s Special Agro-Processing Zone (SAPZ) to evaluate progress in cassava value chain development.
The visit also highlighted the growing impact of the Women in Sourcing Enterprise (WISE) initiative, which is currently supporting about 7,500 youths across the state.
Speaking during the tour, the Ekiti State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Ebenezer Boluwade, described the visiting organisations as key partners in the state’s agricultural transformation agenda. He assured that the government would continue to provide the needed support to investors while strengthening security across farming communities.
“We are committed to ensuring a safe and enabling environment for agribusiness investors. Our administration will continue to back initiatives that drive productivity and create economic opportunities for our people,” Boluwade said.
He noted that the government is placing particular emphasis on empowering programme participants, especially young women, through access to mechanisation services designed to boost efficiency and output.
The delegation, which visited Itapaji and Iyemero Ekiti in Ikole Local Government Area, was received by large numbers of youths participating in the WISE programme. Project sites inspected included Promise Point Farm in Itapaji and FMS Farms Ltd in Iyemero.
The Country Director of Mastercard Foundation in Nigeria, Ms. Rose Fynn, commended the beneficiaries for their dedication, stating that their level of participation reflects the programme’s strong impact.
“The commitment we have seen from these young people is impressive and encouraging. It shows that the programme is achieving its intended objectives,” she said.
Also speaking, the Global Director of IDH Netherlands, Mr. Kebba Coiley, expressed satisfaction with the implementation process and the positive feedback from participants.
The WISE initiative, funded by the Mastercard Foundation and implemented by IDH, is designed to create employment opportunities within the cassava value chain, with a strong focus on women aged 18 to 35.
Beneficiaries are engaged through four partner organisations: FMS Farms Ltd, Promise Point Farm, ABAAS and Value Ingredients Ltd, as part of broader efforts to promote inclusive and sustainable agricultural development in Ekiti State.
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