A quiet but powerful revolution is unfolding across Edo State. From the lush plains of Edo South to the expansive farmlands of Edo Central and the rolling agricultural high belt of Edo North, tractors are coming to change farming and food production, announcing a new era of purpose-driven governance.
It is all about Governor Monday Okpebholo’s bold and visionary leadership that is placing agriculture at the heart of his SHINE Agenda, a comprehensive roadmap combining Security, Healthcare, Infrastructure, Natural Resources & Agriculture, and Education.
Governor Okpebholo is attracting high praise for translating vision into verifiable progress especially in a sector long neglected by successive administrations. In an era where many leaders are content with lofty abstractions, Okpebholo has chosen action.
His prioritization of agriculture is not a token gesture but a courageous and strategic move, backed by bold budgetary realignment and boots-on-the-ground execution.
When he took office in November 2024, he inherited an agricultural sector hamstrung by outdated practices and underfunding. But rather than continuing with the status quo, he made a decisive break. A modest ₦4.5 billion allocation to agriculture in the inherited 2024 budget by the previous administration was boldly and historically raised to over ₦70 billion by Governor Okpebholo.
It was a signal that his administration is ready and willing to invest in real transformation. This financial commitment was swiftly activated through the launch of the “Back-to-Farm” initiative, which has cleared vast hectares of land and delivered modern farming equipment including 18 state-of-the-art tractors—across all senatorial districts.
In Edo South, where farming is deeply woven into the cultural and economic fabric, the introduction of mechanization has been nothing short of revolutionary. Fields once tilled laboriously with hoes are already being rapidly cultivated by tractors, enabling farmers to plant more and harvest faster.
In Edo Central, land long abandoned is now alive with promise. Farmers are hopeful of higher yield increases with the potential for surpluses to fuel both local consumption, inter-state trade and exports.
In Edo North, crude tools and limited access to support services is giving way as farmers now have a genuine shot at commercial-scale agriculture.
It is all part of Governor Okpebholo’s SHINE agenda is the guiding framework ensuring his transformation is holistic, and determined : not piecemeal. Under Security, farmland corridors are coming under a protected and reinforced security with the State Security Corps, now better trained and equipped as well as the State Livestock Control Committee to prevent farmer – herder conflicts.
Of a truth healthcare improves as food becomes more available and nutritious. Governor Okpebholo is developing Infrastructure alongside to open up rural roads and build storage facilities to cut post-harvest losses. Natural Resources & Agriculture are awaiting optimisation through the use of climate-resilient seeds and trained extension workers. Under Education, young people are being drawn back to the land through curriculum-linked school farms and targeted youth empowerment programs.
For Governor Monday Okpebholo this is more than a farming policy or program; it is a social and economic movement. Jobs are being created up and down the agricultural value chain from tractor operators and technicians to transporters and processors. Women are being integrated into cooperatives, gaining access to interest free credit, tools, and training. Youths who had dismissed farming as a last resort are being encouraged to return to farming with new enthusiasm, seeing it now as a viable, dignified, and profitable profession.
Governor Okpebholo is not governing from a distance he is engaging, listening, and acting with sincerity and precision. His efforts are restoring the dignity of the farmer, redefining the value of land, and rebuilding public confidence in leadership. Across Edo his name is resonating not because of party affiliation, but because of palpable, people-focused results.
Of course, challenges persist maintenance of machinery, financing fuel, and ensuring consistent security are ongoing hurdles. But the administration is not sitting idly but strategic partnerships with financial institutions are unlocking soft loans. Capacity-building programs are training local operators and agripreneurs. And community-led surveillance initiatives are safeguarding vital assets.
The harvest seasons that will dawn across the state will bear witness to the wisdom of this policy direction. Food output will rise, prices of food will stabilize, and rural economies revived. With every passing day, Edo is inching closer to its rightful place as Nigeria’s agricultural pacesetter.
In a country that has too often seen bold agricultural ambitions wither from neglect or mismanagement, Governor Okpebholo’s approach stands out for its seriousness, structure, and sincerity. Tractors are not purchased for political optics they are for work. Farmers are not being promised they are being empowered. And agriculture is not being discussed in the abstract it is being practiced and prioritized.
This is more than an agricultural strategy; it is a restoration of Edo’s identity as a land of wealth, work, and wisdom. The fields are no longer silent. They sing with the promise of growth, prosperity, and a leadership that understands that the true wealth of a people lies in the strength of their hands and the richness of their land.
Governor Monday Okpebholo has lit the path. Edo State is fortunate to have him at the helm.
Indeed a New has Risen!
*Godswill Inegbe* Is the Special Adviser To Governor Monday Okpeholo on Communication, Strategy and Media Projects.
