By Achile Danjuma
In a significant move to enhance agricultural productivity and foster self-reliance, the Kwara State Government has provided modern industrial cassava processing equipment to the residents of Owode Oja in Asa Local Government Area. The initiative aims to scale up local production of cassava flour (garri), create sustainable jobs, and improve the economic livelihoods of community members.
The intervention fulfills a direct promise made by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq during a visit to the community in August 2025. At the time, the Governor was in Owode Oja to inspect ongoing road projects and, after commending the resilience of local women, inquired about specific needs to complement the government’s existing infrastructure efforts.
On Wednesday, a delegation from the Government House returned to the community to deliver on that pledge. The machinery, procured from the National Centre for Agricultural Mechanization (NCAM), includes a dewatered cassava mash fryer, a cassava mash sifter, and a high-capacity cassava grater capable of processing 1.5 tonnes of cassava daily.
Presenting the items on behalf of the Governor, the Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, highlighted the administration’s commitment to grassroots economic development. He was accompanied by the Deputy Chief Press Secretary, Mashood Agboola.
Describing Governor AbdulRazaq as a “talk-and-do personality,” Mr. Ajakaye emphasized that the delivery was a seamless follow-through on an executive inquiry made months prior. “On the 5th of August last year, the governor visited this community to inspect several road projects. When he came, he asked about other needs, and today, without prior notice, His Excellency sent us to deliver these four industrial machines,” Mr. Ajakaye stated.
He further noted that the Governor is a steadfast “advocate of self-reliance and economic prosperity,” and that this intervention is designed to provide the community—particularly local women—with the tools necessary for sustainable enterprise.
To ensure the longevity and efficiency of the equipment, Mr. Ajakaye confirmed that technical experts would be deployed to train residents on the operation and routine maintenance of the machines, guaranteeing optimal productivity for years to come.