The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, and the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akinremi Adedapo, have thrown their royal weight behind President Bola Tinubu’s ambitious push for food security, vowing to support the administration’s efforts to make Nigeria self-sufficient in food production.
Speaking at the investiture ceremony of Oba Ogunwusi as a trustee of the Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology (NIFST) in Lagos, both monarchs stressed the need for deeper collaboration between traditional institutions and government to combat hunger and revive the agricultural sector.
The Ooni, visibly passionate about the subject, declared that Nigeria has no business being poor, given the abundance of arable land and young population eager to work. He urged the government to create enabling environments, provide access to land, and ensure security for farmers.
Highlighting his personal investment in agricultural development, Oba Ogunwusi referenced Agbeyewa Farms, where large-scale cassava production has not only created jobs but transformed a once troubled zone into a thriving economic hub. He said the initiative proves that traditional rulers can drive sustainable development by investing in local solutions.
The monarch also warned against overreliance on imported food and foreign aid, insisting that food security must be homegrown, rooted in technology, and driven by local ingenuity. He added that agriculture must be reintroduced into the academic curriculum as a priority, not an afterthought.
On his part, the Alaafin of Oyo praised the Tinubu administration’s economic reforms, describing the crash in food prices and the narrowing of exchange rate gaps as signs of a nation on the path to stability. He reaffirmed the support of the Oyo traditional council for government efforts aimed at reviving Nigeria’s economy through agriculture.
Both monarchs called for a renewed national orientation that celebrates farming and sees food production not just as a necessity but as a noble and patriotic act. They pledged to mobilise their communities to align with the president’s vision of a hunger-free Nigeria.