John F. Kennedy, the former American president must have had our founder, Mr. Steve Babaeko, his beautiful wife, Mrs. Yetunde Babaeko (humanitarian par excellence and MD/CEO of Camara Studios), and Corporate Farmers International in mind when he famously declared that “ask not what your country can do for you: ask what you can do for your country”.
This quote was in full manifestation on Saturday the 28th of December when people from various walks of life gathered for the official commissioning of Babaeko Farms Limited in Kogi State.
Notable among the dignitaries who graced the occasion were His Royal Majesty, the Obaro of Kabba, Oba Otitoleke Oweyomade, chairman of Okun Traditional Council and Secretary, Kogi State Traditional Council, the Oba of Kakun, the Oba of Odobata and many other royal chiefs in Okun Land. The programme tagged “A Morning Time with Children” was themed “Preparing the Next Generation for Food sufficiency and Eradication of Malnutrition in Children”.
The programme commenced with an opening prayer from Pastor Onoja. This was followed with the rendition of National Anthem. The eloquent Master of ceremony, Mr. Dan Yori attested to the fact that Babaeko Farms is a right step in the right direction especially now that the Federal Government of Nigeria is paying attention to food security in the country.
His Royal Majesty, Oba Oweyomade on his part urged all sons and daughters of the land to use the economic potentials and opportunities in Owe land to create job opportunities for our youths and foster economic development. He also urged Owe sons and daughters both at home and in the diaspora to invest in the community.
Mr. Steve Babaeko in his remarks thanked the Obaro of Kabba, other Royal Fathers in attendance, the representative of the Provost College of Education Kabba, the UBA Manager and his team for being part of the remarkable history (launch of the project), especially at this time when many children who are victims of neglect are also subjected to acute malnutrition.
He further stated that the vision of Babaeko Farms is to advance agricultural business in Nigeria beyond hoes and cutlasses. He added that the farm not only adopts the Israel model of irrigation but also uses drones to monitor the progress of farming activities in the large hectares of the farmland.
He ended his remark by appreciating his wife for her unwavering support and partnership towards the initiative.
In his remark, the Agricultural Project Manager, Prince Ade Ajayi disclosed that projects on Babaeko Farms would include fish farming, piggery, and animal husbandry.
“I thank our founder, Mr. Steve Babaeko for donating hundreds of school bags and writing materials to over 100 school children in Kakun Community. I also appreciate Mrs. Yetunde Babaeko for her immense contribution in making the event a huge success with Mr. Akin Alabi, Prince Ade Ajayi and Shola Fashola of Corporate Farmers for the huge success of the program”, he said.
Speaking further, he commended the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Alhaji Aliko Dangote Foundation for the progress made so far towards the 2020 projection for the nation to attain 90% of fortified food compliance.
He concluded by appealing to all stakeholders in Nigerian and the entire African continent to join hands to eradicate malnutrition in children.
The 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) found that 37 percent of children aged 6-59 months in the country are stunted.Sixty-eight percent of children aged 6-59 months and 58 percent of women aged 15-49 were found to be anaemic, while 12 percent of women aged 15-49 are thin.
There is no gainsaying the fact that investing in the agricultural sector at this point in time could help salvage this grim statistic.
May God Bless Babaeko Farms!
– Seyi Babaeko
GM Babaeko Farms.
