The Founder and Chancellor of Afe Babalola University in Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola, has announced that over N100 million has been spent on cash prizes for farmers across the 16 Local Government Areas of Ekiti State. This disclosure was made at the grand finale of the 2026 edition of the Annual Afe Babalola Agricultural Expo (ABAEX) in Ado-Ekiti on Saturday.
According to Babalola, the Afe Babalola Agric Expo (ABAEX) scheme commenced in 2015 with a total prize purse of N5 million. The overall Best Farmer in Ekiti State received N1 million, while the best farmer in each of the 16 local government areas received N250,000. However, the reward system has since increased, with the overall Best Farmer in the state now receiving N2 million.
The top three farmers in each local government receive N200,000, N100,000 and N50,000 respectively. This year, N11.2 million was distributed to winners at the 2026 edition of the expo. Babalola also revealed plans to establish an Ekiti Farmers’ House in Ado-Ekiti to promote modern agriculture, empower farmers, and attract youth and graduates to the farming sector.
The proposed Ekiti Farmers’ House will serve as a secretariat and provide a platform for farmers to access modern agricultural equipment and other support services. The initiative will be established in partnership with the Ekiti State Government and the 16 local government areas of the state. The Farmers’ House is expected to acquire modern agricultural equipment, including bulldozers, ridgers, ploughs and harvesters.
These equipment will be made available to farmers at affordable rates, enabling them to hire modern agricultural implements through their local governments and engage in large-scale, productive farming. Babalola said his hope and wish are to establish Ekiti Farmers’ House to be domiciled in Ado-Ekiti, which will have a secretariat for meetings and allied matters.
Representing Governor Biodun Oyebanji at the ceremony, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Ebenezer Boluwade, commended Babalola for his sustained support for farmers and agricultural development in Ekiti. Boluwade said recent agricultural production data showed that production of major crops in the state had increased between 2022 and 2025.
He attributed the improvement to the resilience of farmers and various interventions by the state government and private sector partners. The commissioner disclosed that the state had also secured approval from the African Development Bank (AfDB) to establish a Special Agro-Processing Zone in Ekiti, a project that would create jobs for youths and increase the income of farmers.
Key points
- Over N100 million has been spent on cash prizes for Ekiti State farmers since 2015.
- The Afe Babalola Agric Expo scheme has increased its reward system over the years.
- An Ekiti Farmers’ House will be established to provide modern agricultural equipment and support services to farmers.
