Dr Kayode Fayemi’s government in Ekiti State has set plans in motion to see to the full establishment of a Cotton Ginning Company at Itapaji Ekiti in the Fountain of Knowledge State to help boost its economy and create more employment opportunities for the young school graduates from the State.
Disclosing this decision to newsmen at Itapaji Ekiti on Monday was an Investor by the name Mrs. Lolade Adeleye during the official flag off of the Recovery of Cotton Ginnery Outputs for the 2019 Cotton Planting Season under the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) anchor borrower programme organised by the National Cotton Association of Nigeria (NACOTAN).
Delivering her address at the occasion, Lolade Adeleye expressed her readiness to establish a factory at Itapaji Ekiti considering of spending her over five (5) years on Research in Cotton and Textiles across Europe and America. Adeleye added that the species of the product in the Southwest of Nigeria are indeed the best in the entire world.
Adeleye maintained that the potential investor in the United Kingdom who graduated from Textiles and Garments has been able to assure that the project would be successful; making a call to the farmers in the state, particularly, members of the NACOTAN, to ensure an increase in their output to meet up with the level of raw materials needed for the running of the factory.
Adeleye and others used the opportunity to appeal to the CBN, the State and Federal of Nigeria to encourage Cotton Farmers by releasing adequate grants and loan.
Equally, giving his keynote address at the event, the Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, said his government will continue to encourage more investors to come into the State to help fast-track its Economic Development, and create enabling environment for the growth of its investments.
The Governor, who was represented by the Honourable Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. Folorunso Olabode, revealed that his government has now approved the issuance of the certificate of occupancy for the land and as well directed the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to release Lands for Cotton Planting this Season.
Fayemi used the opportunity to commend the Cotton Farmers for rising to the task of supporting his government and that of the Federal Government at reviving the moribund Textile Industries in Nigeria.
Also, speaking at the event, the Honourable Commissioner for Trade, Investment and Industry; Chief David Olusoga, stressed the need for the Ekiti State Government under the leadership of Governor Kayode Fayemi, to open up his desire to support serious investors to come into the State by providing necessary logistics for the take-off of their rightful businesses in the State.
Fayemi praised the Cotton Farmers for joining hands with him to attract investors in the areas of Textiles and Ginning into the State. He assured them that his government would not relent at intensifying efforts towards protecting their businesses.
The Regional Manager of Arewa Cotton, Pastor Bayo Olayemi who was also at the take off of the products at Itapaji Ekiti on Monday, revealed that the long staple cotton species found in Ekiti and other South Western States of Nigeria are hot cakes for the International Textile Markets, compared to the short staple cotton found in other parts of the Country and across the globe, except Eygpt.
Olayemi also used the opportunity to charge Cotton Farmers in the entire Southwest region of the Country to intensify efforts at reviving the moribund sector. He stated that there were markets already created for selling of Cottons in Europe, America, India, China and Brazil among others.
Packaged by Emmanuel Adeniran
