By Abdullahi Lukman
Agbeladun Agricultural Empowerment NGO has reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing food security, lowering food prices and improving livelihoods through strategic partnerships, particularly with the media.
The pledge was made during a courtesy visit to Owena Press Limited, publishers of The Hope newspaper and magazine, where the delegation was received by the Chairman/Editor-in-Chief, Kayode Fasua, and members of the management team.
Fasua commended the association for its organisation and foresight, describing its formation as a significant step toward repositioning agriculture in Ondo State and Nigeria.
He noted that recognised associations are better positioned to access government interventions, as agencies prefer dealing with structured groups when distributing farm inputs such as fertilisers, agro-chemicals and tractors.
He observed that subsistence farming is gradually giving way to cooperative and corporate models that ensure higher productivity and sustainability.
According to him, any group seeking government collaboration must demonstrate strong membership, operational credibility and clear structure.
He added that with governments seeking to grow the nation’s GDP, agriculture remains a dependable driver of economic expansion, urging citizens to embrace large-scale production instead of relying heavily on oil revenues.
Fasua assured the NGO of the organisation’s readiness to publicise its activities, highlighting that The Hope operates an active online platform alongside its print editions and dedicates a full agricultural page every Monday to farmers’ issues and policy discussions.
In his remarks, the NGO’s President, Franklin Fadoju, appreciated Owena Press for its consistent coverage and support since the association’s inception.
He praised the media house’s leadership for sustaining operations despite challenges facing the print industry.
Fadoju disclosed that the group has been training farmers, empowering women and youths, and partnering with relevant agencies to improve agricultural practices.
He said members recently benefited from training by a Chinese firm on the use of biochemical products in farming and received agro-materials from the Federal Government due to their structured operations.
Emphasising that the association is socially driven and not profit-oriented, Fadoju called for stronger collaboration with the media to amplify its programmes and attract institutional backing.
He expressed optimism that sustained synergy between agricultural stakeholders and the media would advance food sufficiency and economic development in the state and beyond.
