Oyo State governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has called on local and foreign partners to join the efforts at reviving value tree crops, projecting one million new plantations within the next four years.
He said this on Wednesday while delivering a keynote address at the Nigeria-Belgium Luxembourg Business Forum in Brussels.
He stated that the business forum was yet another opportunity to share specific opportunities available for investment and partnerships in Oyo State in the agribusiness, energy, tourism, infrastructure and solid minerals sectors.
Governor Makinde, who spoke on the sideline of the event, disclosed that he met with prospective investors and partners in a bid to ensure an accelerated revamping of value tree crops, including cocoa, cashew and shea nut.
Those he met with, he said, included Joachim Goedeweeck, Global Cocoa Sourcing and Sustainability Lead for The Belgium Chocolate Group.
“We discussed a partnership with our local private investors on our new accelerated project on value tree crops (cocoa, cashew and shea nut) in Oyo State,” Makinde stated.
The governor also disclosed that the accelerated project on value tree crops has support of IITA and CRIN, adding that the partnership would pursue the planting another one million new trees in the next three to four years.
“We also met with William Leclef, Partnership Lead – West Africa of IKIC Impact Ventures.
“IKIC, supported by the Belgian Government, will work with us on modern technology on vaccinations and drug storage for our primary healthcare centres in Oyo State,” Makinde added.
For more details, read the full address of Governor Makinde at https://seyimakinde.com/nigeria-belgium-luxembourg-business-forum/.
