By Abdullahi Lukman
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority (OORBDA), Deji Ashiru, has announced a series of achievements recorded by the agency over the past two years, highlighting significant progress in agriculture, water supply, rural infrastructure, renewable energy, and youth empowerment.
In a statement issued on Sunday to commemorate his second anniversary in office, Ashiru said the projects reflected the Federal Government’s commitment to agricultural development, economic growth, and improved living standards across the South-West.
According to him, the authority installed more than 400 solar-powered boreholes in communities, providing thousands of residents with access to clean and potable water. He also disclosed that 16 tractors had been deployed to support mechanised farming, while an additional 60 tractors had been procured to strengthen food production.
Ashiru said OORBDA cultivated over 5,000 hectares of farmland and expanded farmers’ access to modern agricultural technologies to improve productivity and sustainability. He added that the agency constructed more than 100 greenhouse farms and procured another 200 to promote climate-smart and all-season farming.
On irrigation and water management, the OORBDA boss revealed that the authority embarked on the development of 12 irrigation dams, with four completed and eight still under construction.
He noted that sprinkler irrigation systems covering over 50 hectares of farmland had also been installed.
The agency, he said, constructed more than 10 kilometres of access roads and over 25 kilometres of drainage infrastructure to enhance agricultural activities and improve connectivity in rural communities.
Ashiru stated that youth and women empowerment remained a priority, with over 200 youths graduating from entrepreneurship and skills acquisition programmes. He added that more than 1,000 youths and women received vocational tools, industrial equipment, and laptop computers to support economic participation and digital inclusion.
He further disclosed that over 200 farmers benefited from training and support initiatives, while the authority established a Songhai Model Farm and stocked more than 20,000 fish fingerlings to encourage integrated farming and aquaculture development.
Modern poultry facilities were also constructed to boost livestock production and agribusiness.
In the energy sector, Ashiru described the concession of the Ikere Gorge Dam for a proposed 250-megawatt hydropower project as one of the administration’s major accomplishments.
He said the project had the potential to transform the region’s energy supply and stimulate economic growth.
The managing director also revealed that more than 10,000 solar-powered street lights had been installed in communities to improve security and support socio-economic activities.
Reflecting on the interventions, Ashiru said the projects had transformed lives, revitalised communities, and created opportunities for residents.
He reaffirmed the authority’s commitment to implementing programmes aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and expressed confidence that greater achievements would be recorded in the coming years.
