Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, has declared the readiness of Ibadan to partner with the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN) to establish a cocoa plantation in the Oyo State capital.
Determined to ensure economic development and investment promotion in the city, the Olubadan invited the Management of CRIN to deliberate on how a cocoa plantation can be established in the state capital.
Oba Ladoja stated in a press release from the Olubadan Palace, on Wednesday: “I am well pleased to receive you and your management staff in my palace and wish to express my gratitude for honouring my invitation.
“I invited you and the experts in your institute to deliberate on how we can establish modern cocoa plantation that can stand the test of time through the modern agricultural technologies and techniques.
“We are lucky to be in the forest region where cocoa plantation can thrive considering our favourable climatic condition. Many agricultural experts surrounding us, particularly the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN).
“On our part, we will make acres of land readily available and source for the needed logistics to ensure the smooth take off of the project to its successful completion.”
In his speech, Acting Executive Director of CRIN, Dr Rasheed Adedeji Abiodun Rasheed, thanked Oba Ladoja and members of his council for the opportunity given the institute to play its role in agricultural development of Ibadanland and Oyo State as a whole.
He assured and pledged that the agricultural plans of the Olubadan for Ibadanland will be successfully implemented, as desired.
Dr Abiodun requested for necessary logistics such as an expanse of land, farm inputs and other necessary resources for the project implementation.
Present at the meeting were the Balogun of Ibadanland, Oba Tajudeen Abimbola Ajibola; Ekerin Balogun of Ibadanland, Oba Akeem Mobolaji Adewoyin and some other traditional title holders.
