Wife of Ekiti State governor, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji has called on Ekiti women to embrace the agricultural practice of cultivating a vegetable garden at their different homes to cushion the effect of economic hardship.
The Governor’s wife spoke after harvesting the first set of vegetables she cultivated herself in her garden within the Government House in Ado Ekiti.
Dr Oyebanji who was harvesting the vegetables barely one month after planting, said she took the action to encourage domestic production of edible items in every homes, and the state at large.
The Ekiti First Lady urged women in the state to emulate her by planting simple food items within the vicinity of their homes to complement their husbands and help reduce their costs in the market.
The governor’s wife announced that owner of best garden in Ekiti will be handsomely rewarded.
She expressed gratitude for the rapid germination of the vegetables, while expressing happiness for laying an example for other women in Ekiti State to emulate.
“I am overwhelmed to see my garden I planted about one month ago growing so fast and rapidly, I’m sure this would serve as example for other Ekiti women to emulate.
“Let us plant vegetables, okro, pepper and other petty crops we need as women so that we can give our husbands and children fresh food,” she said.
Dr. Oyebanji noted that the idea of “One Home, One Garden” was an initiative of the Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who has mandated all state first ladies to begin the initiative in their respective states.
“The primary aim of the initiative was to reduce hunger in our states, and this initiative didn’t exempt our men too. When we have food and vegetables in abundance, the prices of these commodities will naturally be reduced in the market,” Dr. Oyebanji echoed.
She assured Ekiti women in particular that vegetable seedlings would be made available for interested women who might want to have gardens in their different homes.
Mrs Oyebanji added that the President’s wife has promised to reward the best vegetable garden cultivated in Nigeria, pledging that the same will be replicated in Ekiti after the assessment of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
She expressed optimism that this will encourage women in no small measure.
