29th January, 2019
Farmers in Ogun State have concluded plans to launch a N200 million appeal fund for their Farm Produce House.
The farmers, under the aegis of Yewa Awori Farm Produce Traders and Farmers Association, YAPTA, Ogun State, said the launch of the N200 million would hold on February 7, 2019, with Governor Ibikunle Amosun as the special guest of honour.
A statement issued by Shola Olaleye, Programme Coordinator, YAPTA, said other dignitaries expected at the launch included the Deputy Governor of Ogun, Yetunde Onanuga; Amosun’s wife, Mrs Olufunso Amosun, National President of NACCIMA, Mrs Alaba Lawson, among others.
Acting Secretary of the Association, Prince Mathew Ajibawo, in the statement, said the programme was planned to be the single largest gathering of farm produce traders and farmers in the history of Yewa/Awori land and was equally organized to create more awareness and sensitization of Traders on their expected role in Nation Building.
Ajibawo stressed that the inauguration would be done alongside the first formal fund raising and appeal for donation from prominent and generous members of the public and invitees for the construction of the Association’s Farm Produce House, a solution centre for all farm produce traders and Farmers in Yewa and Awori land.
According to him, the association was formed to respond to the negative impact of fragmentation and proliferation of mushroom associations in the zone which had made it very difficult and impossible to chart a common front and agenda for the zone.
“Many groups that merged to form the umbrella Association were members of various unregistered and unpopular associations outside the State,” he said, adding that many traders and farmers were duped and betrayed while many were abandoned at the point of their needs by their former associations.
He said the theme of the programme is “Role of Grassroots Associations in Nation Building” and that it was expected to be delivered by the Commissioner of Community Development and Cooperatives, Ogun State.