Olubadan advocates investments in agribusiness

The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji has implored well-meaning Nigerians living abroad to invest at home in order to alleviate poverty and reduce unemployment ravaging the country.

Oba Adetunji who spoke while receiving members of Yoruba Descendants Union (YDU) from the United State of America led by its President, Agba-Akin Bolu Omodele, said, in view of the present state of our economy, there is an urgent need to invest in agriculture.

According to the Olubadan, intending investors in agribusiness could also take advantage of the overwhelming presence of virtually all the agricultural institutes in Ibadan, such as International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, (IITA) Institute of Agricultural Research and Training, (IAR&T) Cocoa Research Institute, (CRIN); Forestry Research Institute, (FRIN) as well as the Nigeria Institute of Horticultural Research and Training (NIHORT), among others.

Oba Adetunji said the research institutes are in a better position to consult and advise intending investors in agri-business in a way that would benefit both parties while expressing regrets that many Nigerians still labour under the erroneous impression that agricultural business is better left in the hands of peasants.

Earlier in his address, the Yoruba Descendants Union President, Agba-Akin Omodele solicited the support and assistance of the Olubadan towards successful holding of Yoruba World Summit slated for Ibadan next October.

He said participants of the summit would be drawn from among young school leavers, traders and artisans in Yorubaland on what to do to become self-dependent.

Omodele said his team would soon embark on a tour of Yorubaland with a view to knowing the strengths and weaknesses of each location.

He urged the Olubadan to help in contacting and sensitizing traditional rulers in Yorubaland ahead of the summit.