The French Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Jerome Pasquier, on Wednesday lauded Ogun Government on its public/ private partnership and agricultural development initiative, geared toward industrialisation, job creation and economic development.
Pasquire made the remark while inspecting Fan Milk Dairy Farm at Odeda Farm Institute, Eweje, and an aquaculture hub at the Obasanjo Farm Settlement, Owiwi, in Ogun.
He expressed delight with the progress made so far on the dairy farm project, adding that it was capable of producing more milk in Nigeria and reducing milk importation.
According to the envoy, the project will help in training farmers and create more jobs in the state, especially in agriculture.
“This is a very interesting project which has large economic value. It is also aimed at producing more milk and create more jobs.
“This project addresses major economic challenges in Nigeria.
“Ì am happy about the support of the State Government, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for making the dairy farm a reality in Ogun.’’
The Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Adeola Odedina, said on the occasion that various agricultural development and industrialisation strides of the present administration had gained global attention.
According to the commissioner, this development has been responsible for the citing of the Dairy Farm by Fan Milk Plc at the state-owned Farm Institute.
Odedina said the ambassador’s visit was to acquaint the French Embassy with the recent agricultural investment opportunities in Ogun.
According to Odedina, the Odeda Farm Institute, where the dairy farm is located, is owned by the state government.
Odedina said the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the state government and Fan Milk Plc was signed early this year.
“This is a state-of-the-art dairy farm, a public/ private partnership going on in Ogun.
“We are investment ready, and this is going to have an impact on job creation, food and nutrition, as well as industrialisation.
“This is also telling the whole world that we are working our talk in partnership with the private sector and international development organisations,” he said.
Earlier, the Project Manager, Fan Milk Plc, Mr Onyena Livinus, stated that the dairy farm project would benefit the Fan Milk, the society and Nigeria, as it would develop more youths and address the country’s economic needs.
(NAN)
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