On Thursday February 4 2021, The Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) led by its Executive Director, Dr. Dara Akala visited with the Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu and presented a recommended Agricultural Policy for Ondo State as well as an Organizational Review and Assessment of the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC) report to the Governor.
The Ondo State Agricultural Policy is the outcome of an intensive process that also involved extensive consultations of multi-stakeholders involving Farmer Groups; relevant MDAs; Development Partners; Associations of Smallholder Women Farmers; Commodity Associations; People Living with Disabilities (PWDs); Youth; Processors; Financial Institutions; NGOs; Academia, to mention a few.
The Policy acknowledges that the economy of Ondo State is largely agrarian with the majority of the population engaging in farming, and thereby focuses on ensuring that the agricultural sector grows by strengthening the inclusion and participation of different actors in the entire value chain of the agricultural process. It articulates strategies aimed at stimulating economic growth, employment generation, and enduring food security in the State. Both documents were presented to the Governor by PIND and he appreciated the Foundation for its development efforts in the State.
The Organizational Review and Assessment of the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC) was carried out following the State’s request for PIND to assess the Commission and recommend what will enhance the Commission’s effectiveness and efficiency in the delivery of its mandate. The Assessment employed complementary strategies that involved engagements through interviews and plenary sessions with various stakeholders from the Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies- MDAs (including management and staff of the Commission) and representatives of the oil producing communities. From the assessment, some of the critical findings were in the areas of Corporate Governance, Organizational Development and Change Management, Program and Project Management, and Public Financial Management and Procurement.
Receiving the report, the Executive Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu described the assessment report as a document that will guide the State to prosperity. Noting that the review & assessment of OSOPADEC has been going for some time, he said the document would change the structure & expand the directorate of the commission.
While assuring of the implementation of the recommendations and use the reports to improve OSOPADEC, the Governor said the State will liaise with the House of Assembly to amend the relevant law and provide a proper legal framework that will allow for some of the recommendations to make OSOPADEC beneficial to its mandate areas.
On the review of the state’s agricultural policy, Governor Akeredolu said the state has waited so long for a document that will further improve the success already recorded in the agricultural sector.
