Kwara's Agricultural Revival: Okunlola Donates Machinery and Supplies to Boost Farming
Providing basic social infrastructure, particularly supporting agricultural growth and managing land and natural resources, is a fundamental duty of leaders, especially those in political roles. Despite Nigeria's agricultural sector once being the backbone of its economy, it now faces neglect amid rising poverty, food shortages due to farmer-herder conflicts, and widespread insecurity.
In Kwara State, however, Muyideen Okunlola has emerged as a vocal advocate and financier for revitalising agriculture. Beyond rhetorical promises, Okunlola's actions include tangible support for rural farmers.
He has made significant financial contributions to empower farmers through practical interventions. Notably, Okunlola donated tractors to the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) and the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN)-a move seen as transformative for boosting crop yields and mechanising farming operations.
His benevolence extends beyond machinery provision. Okunlola has also supplied free sprayers and pesticides to safeguard crops from pests and diseases. These tools, often unaffordable for smallholder farmers, have enabled effective crop protection, reversing previous challenges in safeguarding harvests.
In Kwara, Okunlola's initiatives have galvanised farmers and enhanced agricultural productivity, offering hope for a revitalised sector.
In a giant stride, Okunlola acquired 50 hectares of land in Alabaale community, located in Igbonna, Oyun Local Government Area. This is to enhance large-scale farming and local food production in the community. This serves as a pristine model for community-driven agricultural development. Alongside this is the provision of high-quality seeds, fertilizers and irrigation systems to ensure optimal crop production.
Expanding on the impact of that 50-hectare project, Okunlola's dedication becomes even clearer in his direct support for the Alabaale farmers. More than just providing land, he's actively ensuring their success by offering essential resources: free seeds, tools and modern farming methods, which will significantly reduce their costs and empower them to flourish. His vision extends beyond the farm's borders, aiming to distribute the fresh produce to families across Kwara State, directly tackling food insecurity and nurturing a stronger, more connected community where the benefits of agriculture are shared by all.
In an attempt to take a cursory look at the innovative spirit and modeling acts of Okunlola, one could come to terms that he takes to the fore the collaboration of the public and private agricultural sectors. Okunlola's involvement with organizations such as the All Farmers Association of Nigeria and the RIFAN in Offa and Oyun branches connotes teamwork and non-political involvement of all sorts. Oftentimes, in the society, especially in this clime, gifts from political leaders and philanthropists of kinds are baits to getting the young to becoming their puppets during electioneering processes, tribal clashes, religious tantrums, among others. However, over the years, MOK has stayed clean and aloof of all forms of these acts, showing that it's all for the people, without any attached strings.
Okunlola has a foundation through which he puts out his works, the MOK Foundation. Through Okunlola's work in this foundation, people outside the shores and landmarks of Kwara State have become beneficiaries of his benevolence, with his impacts on agriculture being mind-blowing. With over 29,000 beneficiaries of Okunlola's good works in Kwara, the people no longer sing his praises alone again; his colleagues, too, shower him with encomiums and speak of how awe-inspiring his acts are. What makes MOK astute among contemporaries is his approach to grassroots philanthropy, centered on uplifting vulnerable communities through practical, long-term support, which has drawn comparisons to impactful agricultural initiatives in other parts of Africa, like the Kenya Agricultural Livelihoods Project (KALP), which has transformed the lives of small-scale farmers.
Much like these impactful efforts that resonate with the real struggles of everyday life in rural communities, Okunlola's own programmes demonstrate a profound understanding of these challenges. By thoughtfully focusing on the very things that matter most - agriculture to nourish families, empowerment to build self-reliance, and food security to ensure no one goes hungry - his model achieves more than just poverty reduction. It cultivates a strong sense of resilience among the farmers, the hardworking individuals who form the very backbone of the local economy, allowing them to not only survive but truly thrive.
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