Ogun to get massive boost in agriculture via OGSTEP

On Tuesday the 11th of February, 2020, the WorldBank with it headquarter in Washington DC approved the Ogun State Economic Transformation Project (OGSTEP) along with five other projects in Nigeria.

Ogun state started the preparation of the project under the administration of Senator Ibikunle Amosun _{FCA CON} since 2017. Several changes had been made to the budget as well as the other documents (including the Project Implementation Manual) to make the project more efficient and effective. At onset, the project was formerly known as the Ogun State Agricultural Production and Industrialisation Program (OGAPIP) before it metamorphosized into OGSTEP towards the end of immediate past administration.

A whooping sum of $250million will be given as loan to Ogun State to support the State government’s efforts in increasing the involvement of the private sector in the State’s economy with focus on improving the business-enabling environment, solidifying agri-food value-chains and upgrading skills.

Ogun State Ministry of Agriculture is not the only agency to benefit from the project. Others aree Ogun State Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the Ogun State Ministry of Urban and Physical Planning, the Ogun State Bureau of Lands, Ogun State Investment Promotion and Facilitation Agency, the Ogun State Property and Investment Corporation, the Ogun State Housing Corporation and the Ogun State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology.

Series of sensitization visits had been made to communities in the three Senatorial districts of the state in 2018 and 2019. Communities and associations have shown interest by submitting their Expressions of Interest formally to the State Ministry of Agriculture.

Through proper management and effective monitoring, the State can boast of becoming the food basket of the State. Recently, Ogun State launched the Broiler Production project which aimed at youth empowerment and recorded a great success in its first phase. Also, the Anchor Borrowers Programme is on-going under the administration of Prince Dapo Abiodun _MFR