By Editor
Ekiti State was, on Monday, named the overall best State for RAAMP’s Sector Reform at the ongoing 8th Implementation Mission of the World Bank co-sponsored Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP) in Abuja.
The State beat 18 other RAAMP participating States to the award following its sterling performance in the Sector Reform, a crucial component of the project which is aimed at implementing reforms that will ensure the sustainability of the RAAMP projects.
The State also emerged as the overall best State in the area of Safeguards implementation among the last 6 States that joined the project a few years ago.
The two awards were presented to the State Project Coordinator, Hon. Sunday Adunmo by the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi who commended the State Government for its commitment to the sustainability of the project.
It is recalled that Ekiti RAAMP had in May 2023 held a series of Stakeholders engagement and workshop which resulted in the preparation of Rural Access Road Authority (RARA) and State Road Fund (SRF) bill. The bills were later passed by the State House of Assembly and signed into law by Governor Oyebanji in June 2023.
The Governor, demonstrating his commitment to the project, also approved the constitution of Boards for the two newly created agencies, putting the State ahead of the 18 other RAAMP participating States.
Receiving the awards, the Project Coordinator, Hon Adunmo said the successes recorded by Ekiti RAAMP were not realizable without the support of Governor Oyebanji whom he said is very passionate about the project.
Adunmo said Oyebanji has not shirked his duties to the Project and has consistently pledged commitment to seeing the project become a success as the roads would complement the efforts of the state government in making the State the food basket of southwest, Nigeria.
The Project Coordinator praised Oyebanji for his foresight, ingenuity and commitment to the development of agriculture, as evident in the various agricultural initiatives put in place by the Governor to revamp the agricultural sector.
He added that Oyebanji has left no stone unturned in ensuring that Ekiti becomes the hub for food production.
Adunmo said the awards would encourage members of the State Project Implementation unit to redouble their efforts in implementing the Project so that the goal of curbing postharvest losses is not defeated.
He dedicated the two awards to Governor Oyebanji whom he described an unrepentant advocate for agricultural revolution that will make Ekiti State self-sufficient in food production, and the good people of Ekiti state for their resilience
