Ondo L-PRES engages 10 communities in development projects
The Ondo State Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (L-PRES) Project has conducted stakeholder/community engagements across ten beneficiary communities and local governments in the state.
The communities included Ikare, the headquarters of Akoko North East Local Government; Igbara-Oke, the headquarters of Ifedore Local Government; Akungba and Oba Akoko in Akoko South West Local Government; Irele, the headquarters of Irele Local Government; Ondo, the headquarters of Ondo West Local Government; and others.
These communities are set to benefit from at least one of the L-PRES construction projects.
In a statement issued by the State Communication/ICT Officer of the L-PRES Project, Augustine Adeoye, which was made available to the media, the projects include the construction of slaughterhouses/slabs, establishment of farmers’ field schools, 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.
He noted that the visited communities have been included in the 2025 work plan to benefit from one or more of the mentioned projects.
He further stressed the importance of involving women, youth, and persons with disabilities in the 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 his chiefs, expressed gratitude for locating some of the projects in his community.
He 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 monarch, Elemure of Emure, Oba Simon Adedubaje, welcomed the team to his palace with his chiefs.
He appreciated the community’s inclusion as a beneficiary and assured his full 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 honor their commitment to project implementation.
In Irele, both the Regent of the land, HRH Olanrewaju Ayeromora, represented by High Chief Adeolu Aroloye, and the council caretaker chairman, Hon. 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 SPC explained that only profiled and authentic livestock farmers of poultry, pigs, sheep, and goats would benefit. He 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 across the visited communities.
