On Monday, Saka Matemilola, the Olowu of Owu Kingdom, announced plans to create an Agricultural Estate aimed at aiding the government’s initiatives in food production while also generating employment opportunities for the nation’s significant number of unemployed youth.
Matemilola also shared that he will officially launch a non-governmental organization he founded, called the Olowu Hope Initiative, on Saturday. This organization has already prepared to provide daily meals for 1,000 primary school students across three selected schools in Abeokuta.
The monarch elaborated that other key objectives of the humanitarian organization, which seeks to boost the socio-economic growth of the people in Owu Kingdom and its vicinity, include offering microcredit assistance to women in the community and ensuring healthcare coverage for at least 1,000 individuals by year’s end, among other projects.
Oba Matemilola disclosed this information while speaking to reporters at his palace during the Odun Omo Olowu 2024 festival, which began on Monday.
The yearly festivity, titled “Growth and Advancement,” holds significant importance for the Owu community.
The royal father stressed that the main reason for establishing the farm estate is to assist the government in tackling food production issues, while also generating employment and promoting agricultural entrepreneurship.
Matemilola stated, “This agricultural enterprise will be run as a cooperative—a form of agricultural estate where anyone interested in any area of agriculture can participate. There will be sections for poultry, pig farming, fisheries, crop farming, vegetable farming, and more.
“There will also be tractors available for those who need to plough their land, as well as irrigation services and other farm inputs. Everything will be done to the highest standards, with regulations and guidelines in place to ensure the proper functioning of this agricultural venture. We will also manage the sale of the products from this farm.
“The quality of the farm produce from this estate will be guaranteed. We are planning to allocate at least three hectares of land for this project and are already in discussions with the government for collaboration. The ultimate goal is to boost food production and create employment through agriculture.”
The traditional leader also indicated that for the one-meal-per-day program targeting 1,000 students, the Abeokuta North Local Government Primary School has been chosen alongside Ansarudeen Primary Schools 1 and 2. There are plans to increase this number to 3,000 students within the next two to three years.
He emphasized that these initiatives are designed to enhance the welfare of the community, irrespective of language or ethnicity, while also contributing to the nation’s development.
The monarch further stated that the annual Odun Omo Olowu festival honors the rich cultural legacy of the Owu community, fostering the unity and collaboration essential for both the kingdom’s and the country’s progress.
Key features of the festival include providing free medical care for more than a thousand individuals, cultural performances, the granting of chieftaincy titles, and the grand finale planned for Saturday.
Expected attendees at the event include former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the Balogun of Owu Kingdom, and the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Olaoye Ghandi, among others.
