Former Nigerian and SS Lazio striker, Stephen Ayodele Makinwa has started a Cocoa and Coffee plantation in Kenema District, Eastern Sierra Leone.

Makinwa’s company, Leo Universal Plantation has a cocoa and coffee farm that stretches over 690 acres in Tunkia Chiefdom.

Recently, the Nigerian visited the Executive Chairman of the Sierra Leone Produce Monitoring Board (SLPMB), Dr James Vibbi today at his office. The visit by the former football was to discuss channels in which he could make further investments in the two cash crops.

Makinwa, speaking to Dr Vibbi and the SLPMB, said he was happy to invest in the nation and appreciated the support the Board provided to him in the past four years.

The Executive Chairman of the Board explained that the country needs like minds to invest in cash crops and other sectors of the country.

One of the Board’s Directors, Didan Sankoh assured the former football player that the SLPMB will visit the plantation to ensure that targeted support is met. He stated that cash crops should be given more attention because it provides more returns than other farm products in the country.

Stephen, who spent most of his career in Italy playing for Serie A clubs like Reggina, Genoa, Atalanta and Lazio will be returning to Rome tomorrow. The Nigerian also represented the Super Eagles in the 2004 and 2008 African Cup of Nations (AfCON) tournaments.