His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II CFR, the Oba of Benin has pledged his support for development of Rubber Research Institute of Nigeria, Iyanomo in Edo State.

He made the pledge when the management of the Institute led by its Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer, Dr. (Mrs) Leila Nkechiyere Dango paid a courtesy visit to his palace in Benin City, the state capital.

Oba Ewuare II in his remarks prayed for the Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Institute to have a successful tenure in office, but declined comment on the alleged land encroachment’ court case between the Institute and its host communities, which she brought to his attention.

According to him, “We do not interfere in court processes, but we will do our best always to support such an institution being on our soil to promote, and develop it.

“We thank you for coming here to introduce yourselves to all of us; we have taken note of the things you have. May you succeed in your assignment as the CEO; may you have a successful tenure in your office,” Oba Ewuare II prayed.

Earlier, Dr. (Mrs) Dango gave a historical background of the Research Institute over the past five decades and prayed Oba Ewuare II to reign in on land grabbers who have allegedly ceded a portion of land belonging to the Institute.

She explained that compensation was duly paid to respective communities as at the time the federal government acquired the land and established the Institute between 1972 and 1973.

The Executive Director recalled that sometime ago, some youths from one of the host communities chased away workers of the institute from its farm settlement for want of compensation.

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