Ekiti State has been shortlisted to participate in the Agricultural Transformation Agenda Support Programme Phase Two (ATASP-II) following Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s expression of interest in the programme, a development expected to support agricultural expansion and create thousands of jobs across the state.
The inclusion of Ekiti in the second phase of the initiative was disclosed by the State Commissioner for Information, Rt. Hon. Taiwo Olatunbosun, who said the update was communicated through an official letter dated February 27, 2026 and signed by the Honourable Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi.
According to Olatunbosun, the selection reflects growing recognition of Ekiti State’s commitment to agricultural development and its readiness to participate in large-scale programmes aimed at transforming the sector.
“Ekiti State has been shortlisted to participate in the Agricultural Transformation Agenda Support Programme Phase Two (ATASP-II) following Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s expression of interest in the programme,” Olatunbosun said in the statement made available to journalists in Ado-Ekiti.
He explained that ATASP-II is a major agricultural development initiative designed to drive productivity, improve food and nutrition security, reduce poverty, and create employment opportunities in participating states.
The programme, which is funded by the African Development Bank in partnership with the Federal Government of Nigeria, is also structured to strengthen rural economies by improving access to markets, expanding financial services for farmers, and enhancing rural infrastructure that supports agricultural production.
Olatunbosun noted that the Oyebanji administration has consistently positioned agriculture as a key driver of economic development, describing the governor’s expression of interest in ATASP-II as part of a broader strategy to attract investment and expand opportunities in the agricultural sector.
According to him, “Governor Biodun Oyebanji is focused on transforming agriculture in Ekiti State into a modern, business-driven sector that boosts food security, creates jobs, and drives economic growth.”
He added that the administration views agriculture not only as a traditional occupation but also as a viable economic engine capable of generating employment for young people and strengthening rural livelihoods.
The commissioner also emphasized that the state government remains committed to leveraging partnerships with federal institutions and international development organisations to accelerate agricultural transformation.
“Ekiti State remains determined to leverage federal partnerships and international development support to deepen agricultural transformation and improve livelihoods across the state,” he stated.
Olatunbosun further recalled that Ekiti State had earlier been selected to participate in Phase Two of the Nigeria Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) programme, another major initiative backed by the African Development Bank and the Federal Government.
He explained that the SAPZ project is designed to strengthen agricultural value chains by promoting industrial processing of key crops such as cocoa, cassava, and palm oil.
“The SAPZ project is expected to create thousands of jobs, stimulate industrial growth, and attract significant private sector investment,” he said.
He also referenced the impact of the first phase of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda Support Programme (ATASP-I), which focused on improving agricultural productivity at the smallholder farmer level through irrigation development, rural road construction, improved access to farm inputs, and strengthening farmer cooperatives.
While ATASP-I concentrated on boosting food production and increasing farmers’ incomes at the grassroots level, complementary initiatives such as the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones are designed to build processing capacity and expand value addition across different stages of the agricultural value chain.
