Expert Urges Youths to Invest in Kolanut Plantation

Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo

Yoruba youths had been advised to boost the revenue of the South Western region by investing in kolanut plantation.

This advice was given by Babalaje Oko Oba Age, Lagos, Mr. Abimbola Taiwo during the inauguration of Omo Oodua Kolanuts Growers and Sellers Association of Nigeria (OKGSAN), in Ile-Ife, Osun State.

Taiwo said that large scale cultivation of the kolanut was a veritable avenue to economic wealth.

He lamented that only aged men and women between the ages of 60 and 70 still plant kolanuts and urged youths to venture into kolanut plantation, adding that an efficiently managed cultivation of kolanut plantation was capable of creating job opportunities for the teeming Yoruba youths.

“Beyond the tradition of using kolanut to promote unity, establishing kolanut plantations in many parts of the South-west geopolitical zone could provide jobs and revenue to the people.

“I want to appreciate the organisers of this programme for the opportunity given to me today to come and say something about on the economic importance of kolanut in our economy,” he said. Taiwo, who enumerated the important of kolanut, said that it could aid digestion, boost energy level and also serve as anti-bacterial to stop the growth of harmful bacteria.

He said: “It boosts metabolism because it contains caffeine. Caffeine is the stimulant often found in coffee and cola soft drinks.”

He, however, enjoined government at all levels to give attention to the production and marketing of kolanuts.

He also advised the government to devise new techniques and innovations in the preservation of kolanuts in order to make storage facilities available and boost the nation’s economy.

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, who is the Grand Royal Patron of OKGSAN, advised the people to venture into plantation of kola nuts and other agricultural sector, especially modern agriculture to cushion the effect of dwindling oil economy.

Oba Ogunwusi said that with the fertile land, Nigerians have the potential to meet and surpass the food need of its people and earn foreign reserve without relying much on crude oil.

The Ooni, who was represented by Obalufon Ogbogbodinrin, urged corporate and wealthy Nigerians to invest in agriculture to tackle unemployment problem in Nigeria.

“We can take advantage of the fertile land to improve the fortune of our country,’’ he said.

He congratulated the newly inaugurated executives urging them to use their wealth of experience to take the association to the greater heights.

Also, the Royal Patron of the OKGSAN, Alayemore of Ido Osun, Oba Adeyemi Adedapo, said that wealthy people should invest in kolanut plantations, adding that the return on such investment would be promising.

Oba Adedapo said that the cultivation of kolanut was significant as its usefulness could not be underestimated.

He used the medium to call on the youths to re-channel their energies towards agricultural development.