The President of the Nigerian Society of Animal Protection (NSAP), Prof. Olaniyi Babayemi has urged residents of Okeho community in Oyo State to blend traditional practices with modern technology, suggesting the creation of an “Olofin Brand” to market local products like “Olofin Ginger” and “Olofin Pottery”.
At the Okeho Economic and Industrial Awareness Summit 2025 last Saturday, the scholar, who paper was titled, “Unlocking the Economic Potential of Okeho”, identified infrastructure deficits, workforce limitations, and the absence of a clear economic development strategy as key challenges. His recommendations included developing a strategic economic plan, establishing an investor task force, implementing workforce training programs, promoting tourism, and leveraging natural resources.
The NSAP President further proposed an action plan that involves establishing an economic development strategy committee within six months, hosting an investment summit within 12 months, and developing a workforce development program within the same timeframe.
He highlighted Okeho’s historical reliance on diverse economic activities, including arts and crafts such as weaving, pottery, beadwork, and blacksmithing, as well as agricultural production of garlic, turmeric, ginger, locust beans, okra, limes, and groundnuts.
In his presentation, Chairman/CEO of Niji Group, Mr. Kolawole Adeniyi focused on agribusiness potential. ‘Okeho, a town nestled within Oyo State, possesses fertile land and a hardworking populace, presenting a prime opportunity for agribusiness-driven economic growth. Unlocking this potential requires a multi-pronged approach’, he stated.
He outlined key strategies: empowering local farmers with modern techniques and improved seeds, establishing robust market linkages, promoting value-added processing, and ensuring access to finance. ‘By addressing these key areas, Okeho can transform its agricultural potential into a thriving agribusiness hub, driving sustainable economic growth and prosperity for its residents’, he further said.
A former FirstBank Managing Director, Mr. Jacob Ajekigbe, who is the Chairman of the summit’s Economic and Industrial Sub-Committee, emphasised the event’s goal of sharing knowledge and experience to foster economic prosperity. He justified the purpose of the gathering as ‘one of the ways through which knowledge, wisdom and experience can be shared with one another on ways through which the economic prosperity of the community can be attained’.
Hon. Najimdeen Oyeshina Oyedeji, representing the Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Iwajowa/Kajola Federal Constituency, acknowledged the community’s focus on economic improvement and addressed state creation speculations, citing constitutional processes as the primary hurdle. He promised to deliver on electioneering campaigns.
Organised by Egbe Omo Ibile Okeho, the occasion had in attendance notable dignitaries, entrepreneurs, business moguls, politicians and traditional rulers, among others.
