IBADAN — In a major move to bolster local commerce and ensure food sustainability within the metropolis, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, on Tuesday officially unveiled “Garri Ibadan,” a new economic flagship project aimed at promoting indigenous production.

The unveiling, held at the Olubadan’s Palace, serves as the centerpiece of a broader food security initiative led by the Ibadan Economic Investment and Business Development Desk. According to the monarch, the project is designed to stimulate economic growth by empowering local processors and ensuring that the staple food remains accessible and sustainable for residents across the 11 local government areas of Ibadanland.

Beyond its economic implications, the event served a dual purpose as the monarch also inaugurated the Ibadan Community Guard. This grassroots security initiative is intended to provide a safe environment for commerce and farming to thrive by strengthening surveillance and complementing the efforts of conventional policing agencies.

The ceremony was attended by a high-powered delegation of Ibadan leadership, including the Iyalaje Iyalode of Ibadanland and former Minister of Industry, Chief Onikepo Akande, as well as Senator Sharafadeen Alli. Also present were CP Fatai Owoseni and the President-General of the Central Council of Ibadanland, Ajeniyi Ajewole, all of whom lauded the “Garri Ibadan” initiative as a vital step toward reclaiming the economic vibrance of the ancient city.