By Dupe Isename
The Ondo State Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support, L-PRES Project has conducted stakeholder/community engagement across ten beneficiary communities and local governments in the state, as part of its project implementation plan.
The communities included Ikare, the headquarters of Akoko North East Local Government; Igbara-Oke, headquarters of Ifedore Local Government; Akungba and Oba Akoko in Akoko South West Local Government; Irele in Irele Local Government; Ondo, in Ondo West Local Government among others.
These communities are set to benefit from at least one of the L-PRES construction projects.
The projects include the construction of slaughterhouses/slabs, the establishment of farmers’ field schools, the construction and installation of boreholes for farmers’ clusters, and the construction of sheep/goat markets.
The L-PRES Project implementation team, led by the Project Coordinator, Mr. Olufemi Adeogun, was warmly received by traditional and religious leaders, market women, youth, and other stakeholders in the communities.
Mr Adeogun explained that L-PRES is a six-year World Bank intervention in partnership with the Ondo State Government to improve the productivity, resilience, and commercialization of selected livestock value chains, including poultry, pigs, sheep, and goats.
He emphasized that the project also aims to address farmer-herder crises.
The L-PRES Project Coordinator noted that the visited communities have been included in the 2025 work plan to benefit from one or more of the mentioned projects.
He stressed the importance of women, youth, and persons with disabilities in decision-making and implementation processes.
Mr Adeogun urged the communities to take ownership of the projects and assured them that beneficiary profiling is an ongoing exercise at no cost.
In response, the Olukare of Ikare, Oba Akadiri Momoh, represented by some of his chiefs, expressed gratitude to the team for siting some of the projects in his community.
Oba Momoh urged the team to expedite the implementation process and assured them of his support, including providing the most suitable land options.
At Emure in Owo Local Government, the Elemure of Emure, Oba Simon Adedubaje, welcomed the team to his palace with his chiefs.
Oba Adedubaje appreciated his domain’s inclusion as a beneficiary and assured his total support for successful project implementation.
Similarly, the Alale of Akungba Akoko, Oba Sunday Adeyeye, and the Regent of Oba Akoko, Princess Adegoroye, along with their respective chiefs, expressed their delight in receiving the team.
They pledged full support and promised to allocate suitable land for the proposed projects.
However, they urged the team to honour their commitment to project implementation.
In Irele, both HRH Olanrewaju Ayeromora, represented by High Chief Adeolu Aroloye, and the council caretaker chairman, Mr Aliu Olaniran, represented by the Head of Local Government Administration, Mrs. Oluronke Olufunmi, assured the project team of their readiness to allocate suitable land for the project.
Meanwhile, in Igbara-Oke, the headquarters of Ifedore Local Government, the team engaged with potential direct beneficiaries of the project at the council.
The L-PRES Project implementation team lead explained that only profiled and authentic livestock farmers of poultry, pigs, sheep, and goats would benefit.
Mr Adeogun emphasized a minimum of 30% participation by women and youth, encouraging them to form groups recognized by the project.
Over six hundred individuals attended the events held across all the visited communities.
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