MOK’s Agricultural Revolution: Transforming Rural Kwara Through Empowerment and Innovation

By Aminu Shitta

The provision of basic social amenities for the rural communities, especially agricultural growth and development of land and other natural resources, is a germane duty of leaders, especially the ones in the political sphere. With the staggering heights of poverty, food scarcity due to farmers-herders clashes, and insecurity in general, the agricultural sector, which used to be the goldmine and highest contributor to Nigeria’s GDP, seems to be a deserted one. However, Muyideen Okunlola has been an advocate and financier of this sector in Kwara State.

Core among Muyideen Okunlola’s actions and plethora of wordy assurances is the support to the farmers in the rural communities in Kwara State. He has made diverse financial obligations to empowering farmers through different means. The donation of tractors to the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) and the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) has been a motion of true love to change the sector for the best. Tractors are helpful mechanized equipment which enable soaring results in the production of crops and other farming operations.

Okunlola’s benevolence hoops above the provision of machinery. It also cuts across the provision of sprayers and pesticides which are all free for the protection of crops. It’s widely known that these are expensive, especially for small-scale farmers, which has made the safeguarding of their crops proven abortive. In Kwara State, Okunlola has energized the farmers with these acts and also helped protect their crops effectively.

In a giant stride, Okunlola acquired 50 hectares of land in Alabaale community, located in Igbonna, Oyun Local Government Area. This is to enhance large-scale farming and local food production in the community. This serves as a pristine model for community-driven agricultural development. Alongside this is the provision of high-quality seeds, fertilizers and irrigation systems to ensure optimal crop production.

Expanding on the impact of that 50-hectare project, Okunlola’s dedication becomes even clearer in his direct support for the Alabaale farmers. More than just providing land, he’s actively ensuring their success by offering essential resources: free seeds, tools and modern farming methods, which will significantly reduce their costs and empower them to flourish. His vision extends beyond the farm’s borders, aiming to distribute the fresh produce to families across Kwara State, directly tackling food insecurity and nurturing a stronger, more connected community where the benefits of agriculture are shared by all.

In an attempt to take a cursory look at the innovative spirit and modeling acts of Okunlola, one could come to terms that he takes to the fore the collaboration of the public and private agricultural sectors. Okunlola’s involvement with organizations such as the All Farmers Association of Nigeria and the RIFAN in Offa and Oyun branches connotes teamwork and non-political involvement of all sorts. Oftentimes, in the society, especially in this clime, gifts from political leaders and philanthropists of kinds are baits to getting the young to becoming their puppets during electioneering processes, tribal clashes, religious tantrums, among others. However, over the years, MOK has stayed clean and aloof of all forms of these acts, showing that it’s all for the people, without any attached strings.

Okunlola has a foundation through which he puts out his works, the MOK Foundation. Through Okunlola’s work in this foundation, people outside the shores and landmarks of Kwara State have become beneficiaries of his benevolence, with his impacts on agriculture being mind-blowing. With over 29,000 beneficiaries of Okunlola’s good works in Kwara, the people no longer sing his praises alone again; his colleagues, too, shower him with encomiums and speak of how awe-inspiring his acts are. What makes MOK astute among contemporaries is his approach to grassroots philanthropy, centered on uplifting vulnerable communities through practical, long-term support, which has drawn comparisons to impactful agricultural initiatives in other parts of Africa, like the Kenya Agricultural Livelihoods Project (KALP), which has transformed the lives of small-scale farmers.

Much like these impactful efforts that resonate with the real struggles of everyday life in rural communities, Okunlola’s own programmes demonstrate a profound understanding of these challenges. By thoughtfully focusing on the very things that matter most — agriculture to nourish families, empowerment to build self-reliance, and food security to ensure no one goes hungry — his model achieves more than just poverty reduction. It cultivates a strong sense of resilience among the farmers, the hardworking individuals who form the very backbone of the local economy, allowing them to not only survive but truly thrive.