Agric Expert Urges Ondo To Create Oil Palm Cities

TManaging Director of Okitipupa Oil Palm ( OOP) Plc, Taiwo Adewole has urged the Ondo State Government to establish a 100,000 hectares Oil Palm city in each of the state’s three senatorial districts, to provide massive employment and boost the state’s economy and revenue base.

Adewole who made this call in a statement, noted that this clarion call was based on the company’s observation where several thousands of youths scrambled for a very few slots, when renting out to private individuals and small scale farmers part of its oil palm plantations under its new out- sourcing policy.

He said during the exercise, he saw the visible determination of youths to work for a living, declared that the clear message from the scrambling, was that youths were ready to work even as oil palm farmers, but the opportunities were not there, he urged the state government to create these opportunities, which in his opinion would mutually benefit both the government and the people.

The Managing Director said the new administration in OOP has significantly revived and re- positioned the once moribund firm and had paid the land- owners all their entitlements, including arrears which they got last more than 31 years ago.

Adewole further disclosed that another evidence that the firm had been fully revived was that it is now set to hold its Annual General Meeting on June 8, the first in more than 13 years.