As part of its growth strategy and a bid to explore the numerous potentials of its land assets across its owner states, Odu’a Investment Company Limited has commenced commercial growing of tomatoes on a sizeable portion of its 3,500 hectares farmland in Imeko, Ogun state.
According to the Head of the Corporate Affairs Department of the company, Mr Victor Ayetoro, the Imeko farmland is part of the assets vested in Odu’a Investment Company Limited by the old Western region government after the creation of states in 1976.
Ayetoro stated further that the other four farmlands are located in other states in the South-West region of Nigeria, adding that Odu’a Investment Company Limited had in the past, used the entire land as a cattle ranch and at some other times, practiced crop farming on some portion of the land.
According to him, the company is currently undertaking a 12 hectares pilot tomato farm within its 3,500 hectares land using modern agronomic practices on open field transplanting method. This is geared towards achieving a yield of 60tons/hectare against the traditional 7tons/hectare.
This he said will be scaled up in the next planting season to 50hectares in order to showcase the company’s operational capability.
He added:” This is to attract investors towards achieving a scale of between 500-1,000 hectares tomato farm by the 3rd year and installment of a processing plant within the proximity of the farm so as to process its farm produce into tomato paste and concentrate”
The Board, led by its Chairman, Engr. Olusola Akinwumi, the Group Managing Director/CEO, Mr Adewale Raji and other members of the management team on Wednesday, 27, March, 2019 embarked on a working visit to the Tomato farm to assess the level of work going on at the farm.
The Odu’a team used the opportunity of the visit to pay homage to the Onimeko of Imekoland, Oba Benjamin Oyediran Olanite, Eyi Ogboye, Akankan IV at his palace.
The Company’s GMD/CEO, Mr Raji assured the traditional ruler that the company’s ultimate goal was to establish processing plant for raw materials from the for the socio-economic benefit of the community in terms of job creation and allied development.
The Onimeko of Imeko, Oba Benjamin Olanite, also expressed delight on the company’s positive move. He later prayed that the project will be a success and of great benefit to the people of Imeko, Ogun state and the South-West and Nigeria in general.
Also on the visiting team were other members of the Board of Directors-Dr Mrs Adepeju Esan,Chief Segun Ojo and Chief Dele Okeya.
Management Staff present were Mrs Yinka Tunji-Ojo, GM Finance & Investment, Dr Morakinyo Oloyede, Head Group Human Resources, Mrs Abiola Ajayi, Company Secretary/Head of Legal, Mr Segun Agbekeye, Group Head, Internal Control & Risk Compliance, Engr Soji Sangobiyi, Project Evaluation Manager, Mr Babajide Oyebola, Principal Assistant, Strategy & Sustainability, Mr Victor Ayetoro, Head, Corporate Affairs, Mrs Nike Ajobo, Public Relations Manager and Mr James Osasuwa, Strategy Officer.
Packaged by Mayowa Owogbade
