Ibadan, Nigeria’s Largest City, Offers Abundant Arable Land for Agricultural Production
The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Akinloye Olakulehin Ige Olakulehin 1, has highlighted the city’s vast arable land suitable for agricultural production, inviting investors to tap into the opportunity to boost food production in Nigeria.
During a courtesy visit by the Belgian Ambassador to Nigeria, Pieter Leenknegt, at the new Olubadan Palace on Monday, the traditional ruler emphasized the importance of international partnership, funding, and support to achieve this goal. The Olubadan listed various locations in Ibadan with abundant arable land, including Egbeda, Ona Ara, Oluyole, Ido, Lagelu, and Akinyele local government areas.
Ibadan, one of the largest cities in Africa, has vast resources, including arable land, that can be utilized for large-scale agricultural production. The city’s abundant land is suitable for agricultural production, and the Olubadan is eager to partner with investors to boost food production in the nation.
The Belgian Ambassador, accompanied by the Advisor in Economic Diplomacy for Nigeria, Kingdom of Belgium, Genco Sanli, and Manager, Resource Mobilisation, Protocol and External Liaison of International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Florence Oluwatoyin Oke, had earlier disclosed the Belgian Government’s activities and interventions within Nigeria’s agricultural sector. The Ambassador’s visit aimed to enhance agricultural production, trade, and finance between Nigeria and Belgium.
The Belgian Ambassador also highlighted the importance of cocoa production, stating that Nigeria’s Oyo state has been a major producer of cocoa. He expressed his desire to boost cocoa production in Nigeria and enhance trade and finance through this initiative.
The meeting between the Olubadan and the Belgian Ambassador marked a significant step towards exploring opportunities for cooperation in Nigeria’s agricultural sector.