Five Thousand Ekiti Young Farmers Receives N1 Billion Disbursements 

… As Oyebanji Charges Them To Re-Invest Funds 

By Joseph Sunday 

Five thousand young farmers in Ekiti State today received the disbursements of a total sum of N1 billion under the Bring Back Youth into Agriculture programme just as the Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji charged them to re-invest the funds into technology and further expand their farming businesses thereby generating more income for themselves. 

The Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, represented by his Chief of Staff, Honourable Niyi Adebayo while presenting cheques to the 5,000 beneficiaries in Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday, described the initiative as a shift from subsistence farming to sustainable large-scale agribusiness through the public-private partnership with YSJ Farms.

Oyebanji revealed that the programme, which started in 2024 with 911 youths and ₦145 million in profits, has expanded to over 5,000 participants in 2025, recording a 700 per cent growth to ₦1 billion in profits. 

He urged beneficiaries to reinvest their earnings, adopt modern technologies and expand their operations.

Also, speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Honourable Ebenezer Boluwade, said the programme now operates across 12 agricultural hubs, with interventions including free land clearing, farm inputs, security, dams, buses and solar-powered irrigation. 

He added that the state plans to scale up participation to 50,000 youths by 2030.

The Commissioner for Youth Development, Honourable Gold Adebayo, also described the initiative as a strategic tool for tackling youth unemployment and boosting economic development.

YSJ Farms CEO, Oluwayemisi Joluwe, said the programme has gained traction across the South-West and would soon be extended nationwide.

Among the beneficiaries were Johnson Owoeye who got N1.5 m from Iyemero, Akeredolu Michael the best youth of the year N1.5 million and Bolarinwa ABIODUN, N1 million. 

The beneficiaries commended Governor Oyebanji for the improved security in the State, also called for an increase in mechanisation from 2026 to further enhance productivity.