By Popoola Jamiu, Abeokuta
The Ogun State Government has unveiled fresh initiatives aimed at strengthening the agricultural sector and expanding access to healthcare education, as part of efforts to drive economic growth and human capital development across the state.
Chairman of the Ogun State Agro-Services Corporation, Mr. Henry Fagbenro, disclosed plans to reposition the corporation for enhanced productivity and food security, while the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, announced the commencement of admission into the Ogun State College of Nursing Sciences for the 2026/2027 academic session.
Speaking with journalists shortly after assuming office, Fagbenro said the corporation had developed a comprehensive blueprint in line with Governor Dapo Abiodun’s vision of transforming Ogun into Nigeria’s leading agricultural hub.
He said his first assignment was to embark on a statewide assessment of the corporation’s facilities across the 20 local government areas to restore dilapidated infrastructure, recover encroached assets and prepare the zones for upcoming agricultural interventions.
According to him, several zonal offices and farmlands had either been abandoned, leased out or illegally occupied over the years, necessitating urgent administrative and legal actions to reclaim government property.
Fagbenro revealed that efforts were already underway in areas such as Ago-Iwoye, Ifo and Imeko to recover encroached lands and restore facilities to their original purpose. He added that the corporation was collaborating with the Ministry of Housing to renovate key agricultural centres in Remo, Ikenne and Ilaro.
“The renovated facilities will serve as secure holding centres for agricultural equipment and as one-stop service hubs where farmers can directly access agricultural support services,” he said.
The chairman noted that the initiative would not only safeguard government assets from future encroachment but also provide a conducive working environment for staff.
He commended Governor Abiodun’s investment in infrastructure, particularly the Gateway International Airport and the dry ports at Papalanto and Kajola, describing them as strategic projects designed to support the agricultural value chain.
Fagbenro explained that ongoing transport projects, including planned rail links and rural road networks such as the Imasayi-Ilaro road corridor, would ease the movement of farm produce to local and international markets.
He further disclosed that the governor would this month hand over a fleet of modern tractors, planters and harvesters to the corporation for deployment across the state’s agricultural zones.
According to him, improved seeds, fertilisers and agrochemicals would also be made available to farmers at subsidised rates through the renovated zonal offices to cushion the impact of inflation.
To enhance communication with rural farmers, Fagbenro said the corporation would revive agricultural radio and television programmes and intensify grassroots awareness campaigns to ensure farmers are adequately informed about government interventions.
He added that specialised training programmes focusing on modern marketing techniques, technology adoption and the safe use of agrochemicals would be organised to improve productivity and connect farmers with export opportunities.
Meanwhile, the Ogun State Government has commenced admission into the Ogun State College of Nursing Sciences, warning prospective applicants against falling victim to admission fraudsters.
In a statement, Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, announced that applications were now open for admission into the college’s Abeokuta, Ijebu-Ode and Ilaro campuses for the 2026/2027 academic session.
She advised candidates to process their applications only through the institution’s official admission portal and avoid dealing with unauthorised individuals promising admission in exchange for money.
Dr. Coker said online application forms are available through the college’s admission portal, adding that the application process would close on July 20, 2026.
She explained that applicants must score a minimum of 180 in the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and must have selected any of the Ogun State College of Nursing Sciences campuses as their first-choice institution.
The commissioner added that candidates must be at least 16 years old by August 31, 2026, and possess at least five credit passes in English Language, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Biology in not more than two sittings in WAEC, NECO or GCE examinations.
Dr. Coker stressed that admission into the institution would be strictly merit-based and urged applicants to rely only on official sources of information throughout the admission process.
She warned prospective students against individuals or groups demanding money or offering admission outside the approved procedures, reiterating the government’s commitment to transparency and fairness in the exercise.