A former Military Governor of the old Oyo State, Major General Oladayo Popoola (Rtd), has heaped praises on Governor Seyi Makinde for bringing to life his long-held vision for the Fasola Farm Estate.
General Popoola, who governed the state between January 1984 and August 1985, shared his thoughts in an interview with The People’s Verdict. He revealed that the Fasola Farm Settlement had always held a special place in his heart, and he had once hoped to revamp it during his tenure. However, his redeployment to Ogun State cut that ambition short.
“We tried our best back then to turn Fasola around, but it just didn’t work out. Some of the things we took there were even destroyed,” he said. “Now, Makinde has resuscitated it. Everyone is talking about Fasola again. I’m very happy about that.”
Governor Seyi Makinde had, shortly after assuming office, chosen the neglected Fasola Farm Settlement as the pilot project in his plan to transform three major farm settlements—Fasola, Eruwa, and Akufo—into agribusiness industrial hubs.
Today, the Fasola Agribusiness Industrial Hub hosts over a dozen medium- to large-scale agribusiness enterprises engaged in crop and livestock production, mechanization, and agro-processing.
In recognition of its remarkable turnaround, the African Development Bank (AfDB), under the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone initiative, recently designated Fasola as Nigeria’s first Agribusiness Transformation Centre.
General Popoola also commended Governor Makinde for resolving the long-standing crisis that had crippled Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, for years—affecting both students and lecturers.
“We all remember the recurring shutdowns at LAUTECH,” he remarked. “When he became governor, Makinde established a committee that facilitated Oyo State’s emergence as the sole owner of the institution. That intervention restored stability to the school.”
Reflecting on Governor Makinde’s leadership, the retired general said:
“You would need a very good dictionary to find the right words to describe him. He is a quiet achiever, a respectful and hardworking leader. He has significantly improved the state beyond what he met.”
He added, “His impact is visible in every sector—agriculture, infrastructure, education. Look at the roads in Ibadan; most of them have been given a facelift. If I start listing all he has done, I won’t stop. He is a great achiever, and Oyo State has benefitted immensely from his leadership.”
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