Breaking news | Record-Breaking 9.5-Foot African Spinach Discovered in Ekiti State

A remarkable 9.5-foot-tall African Spinach plant has been discovered in Ikoro-Ekiti, a town in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Locally known as Efo Tete, the plant is believed to be the tallest of its kind ever recorded on the continent, sparking both scientific interest and a wave of tourism curiosity.

This discovery was announced in a statement issued to the Voice of the people  (VOP) on Friday in Lagos, and signed by Mr. Wale Ojo-Lanre, Director-General of the Ekiti State Tourism Development Bureau.

According to Ojo-Lanre, the towering spinach—which is still growing and has yet to produce seeds—was found in the backyard of a local farmer, Mr. Lawrence Ajolokan, in the Eso-Obe Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of the state.

“This isn’t just a plant. It’s a potential world record holder, a scientific curiosity, and a tourism gem all wrapped in one,” Ojo-Lanre said

A 9.5-foot-tall African Spinach plant, believed to be the tallest of its kind ever recorded in Africa, has been discovered in Ikoro-Ekiti, a town in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Known locally as Efo Tete, the plant is drawing widespread attention from scientists, tourists, and agricultural experts alike.

The discovery was announced in a statement provided to the Voice of the people (VOP) on Friday, and signed by Mr. Wale Ojo-Lanre, Director-General of the Ekiti State Tourism Development Bureau.

The spinach is currently growing in the backyard of Mr. Lawrence Ajolokan, a farmer in the Eso-Obe Local Council Development Area (LCDA). Ajolokan said he planted the spinach in June 2024 and had harvested from it multiple times. However, he deliberately left one stalk untouched due to an inexplicable instinct that urged him not to cut it.

“I just had this strong feeling not to weed or harvest that particular stalk,” he said.

Since then, the untouched stalk continued to grow well beyond the expected height, now reaching 9.5 feet and still showing no signs of fruiting. Its unusual growth only came to light when journalist and community leader Mr. Lester Olaifa visited Ajolokan’s farm and remarked on the plant’s extraordinary height and thickness.

Following the discovery, local authorities have moved quickly to protect the plant. Mr. Bankole Ayeni, Chairman of Eso-Obe LCDA, confirmed that measures have been put in place to safeguard it.

The plant has already surpassed the previous height record for African Spinach—8.3 feet—set in Benue State in 2018. Experts believe this specimen could represent a rare mutation or environmental anomaly worthy of further study.

The traditional ruler of Ikoro-Ekiti, Oba Adebanji Adeleye, commended the state government’s prompt action, emphasizing the cultural and scientific significance of the discovery.

“Ikoro is not just an ancient town but a custodian of living heritage,” the monarch stated.