“We are very happy and grateful to the elder statesman and great son of Ekiti State, Aare Afe Babalola, for always encouraging farmers to be their best in all they do, thereby impacting on the overall economy of the nation”
Oore @ Afe Babalola Agric Expo, stresses place of farming in health, wealth
By John Odunayo
The Oore of Otun Ekiti and Paramount Ruler of Mobaland, Oba Adekunle Adeayo Adeagbo, shared the moment of joy with farmers across the 16 local government areas of Ekiti State on Saturday at the 2026 Afe Babalola Agricultural Expo (ABA-EX).
For the yearly agricultural expo which began in 2015, farmers from the different local government areas of Ekiti State gathered at Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti to showcase their farm produce.
Youths are not left out of the gesture. In this year’s edition, 32 youths, who had been trained in plantain chips production, packaging and marketing under the Afe Babalola Youth Empowerment initiative, were also at the colourful event where they received necessary tools and equipment for the business courtesy of the ABUAD Chancellor, Aare Afe Babalola SAN.
Oba Adeagbo, who arrived the occasion in a grand style, hailed the ABUAD Chancellor, who is a farmer, for the yearly agricultural expo where he has consistently continued his encouragement to farmers to be their best.
The Oore, a Special Royal Guest of Aare Afe Babalola, who is the Balogun of the ancient Kingdom of Mobaland, expressed happiness for the ABUAD founder’s gestures to the farmers and youths.
Oba Adeagbo said, “We are very happy and grateful to the elder statesman and great son of Ekiti State, Aare Afe Babalola, for always encouraging farmers to be their best in all they do, thereby impacting on the overall economy of the nation”.
The monarch, who stressed the role of agriculture in development and nation building, said, “Food security is key to a wealthy and healthy nation. Without healthy and fresh food, one’s capacity to perform effectively in whatever field will reduce.
“Availability of healthy food provided by the local farmers will go a long way to boost the economic capacity of our dear country, Nigeria,” the frontline monarch said.
The traditional ruler also lauded Afe Babalola for impressing modern agricultural practices on farmers in the state with the expo, describing the theme for this year, ‘AI for every farmer: Farming smarter, producing more and earning better’ as apt.
The Oore, who congratulated the youths for being beneficiaries of Afe Babalola’s gesture, advised them to use the tools and equipment given to them effectively to boost their economy and impact others.
The monarch also congratulated the best farmer on the occasion who smiled home with N2m cash prize.
Beyond the N2m prize for the overall best farmer, the best three farmers in each of the 16 local government areas smiled home with N350,000 broken down as N200,000 for first, N100,000 for second and N50,000 for third in each council area.
Afe Babalola advised the winners to “invest whatever you win wisely and judiciously bearing in mind that the richest people in the world today started from nothing”.
The elder statesman and philanthropist appreciated the Ekiti farmers for forging ahead despite the challenges with farming in the country such as kidnapping, robbery and herdsmen invasion.
Babalola unveiled plan to establish Ekiti Farmers House in Ado Ekiti, disclosing that the House, in partnership with the state government and the 16 local government areas of the state “will acquire modern farm implements including ridgers, ploughs and harvesters which the Ekiti Farmers House will be renting to farmers at low rates.
“Through this scheme, farmers will be able to hire agricultural implements from the local government to engage in large scale and productive modern farming.
“This way, Nigerians, particularly our youths and university graduates will imbibe modern agriculture. It is possible. It is practicable and it is achievable. This will encourage more people to take to farming in the overall interest of the country,” Babalola said.
