The Ekiti State Government has announced a major step toward transforming its agricultural sector through a partnership with Community Energy Social Enterprise Limited (CESEL) for the deployment of solar irrigation facilities to youth farmers.
The Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Ebenezer Boluwade, disclosed the development in Ado-Ekiti, stating that Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji approved the project as part of efforts to boost agricultural production and address food security challenges in Nigeria.
Boluwade said the State Government and CESEL had agreed to begin with a pilot programme in selected farming centres as proof of concept. Under the arrangement, N200,000,000 has been approved for the construction of modular solar-powered irrigation systems at farm hubs currently in use under the Bring Back Youths into Agriculture (BBYA) programme.
He explained that the initiative is a key part of the State’s plan to modernise farming, improve productivity, and reduce reliance on rain-fed agriculture.
According to him, the pilot will lead to a larger rollout of solar irrigation under the proposed Productive Use of Energy (PUE) component of the World Bank and Rural Electrification Agency’s Distributed Access for the Renewable Energy Scale-Up in Nigeria (DARES).
The Commissioner noted that the irrigation systems will draw water from perennial sources across Ekiti, allowing year-round farming and reducing risks linked to unpredictable weather.
The solar-powered facilities will be deployed in Ose Centre, Emure Local Government; Ado-Ekiti; Ikere; and Aramoko, all of which have active youth-led farms under the BBYA programme.
Boluwade stressed that crop failures caused by irregular rainfall in recent years had prompted the government to act. Partnering with CESEL and adopting its Irri-Go (Irrigation-As-A-Service) product, he said, would bring sustainable solar irrigation to farmers.
CESEL’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Patrick Tolani, said Ekiti was chosen as the first location for the company’s southern Nigeria solar irrigation campaign after a comprehensive assessment.
He noted that similar interventions in some northern states, supported by Propcom+ and delivered by Palladium International, had achieved significant results.
Tolani commended Governor Oyebanji’s support, describing it as “top-notch” and pointing out that the state had cleared land for 13 cluster-based youth farming centres. “All these support systems, which are not available in other states, qualify Ekiti to become the headquarters for Irri-Go in Nigeria,” he said, confirming that CESEL has established its national headquarters in Ado-Ekiti.
He praised the BBYA programme, noting that the state’s proactive measures and infrastructure readiness set it apart. Tolani also revealed that CESEL is working with top academics from the University of Lincoln in the United Kingdom and plans to visit Brazil later this year.
The visit, supported by a travel grant from the UK Government, will focus on studying climate-smart agricultural practices that have delivered up to 800 percent increases in crop yields.
Tolani explained that the trip would follow President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent visit to Brazil, which laid the groundwork for future partnerships between Nigerian agricultural stakeholders and their Brazilian counterparts.
He expressed optimism that the collaboration between Ekiti State, CESEL, and international partners would set a new standard for youth empowerment and sustainable farming in the country.
The Commissioner concluded by reaffirming the State Government’s commitment to agricultural development, economic diversification, and national food security.
He emphasised that the solar irrigation initiative is a strategic move to engage more youths in farming, improve output, and stabilise food supply chains regardless of climate challenges.
