Towering Wonder: 9.5ft African Spinach Stuns Ekiti, May Be Tallest Ever in Africa

In what could become a world-record agricultural discovery, a massive 9.5-foot-tall African Spinach plant, locally known as Efo Tete, has been found growing in the backyard of a local farmer in Ikoro-Ekiti, Ekiti State—capturing national and international attention.

The extraordinary plant, which has yet to produce seeds and continues to grow, was discovered in the compound of 81-year-old Pa Lawrence Ajolokan. Its record-breaking height may surpass the previously tallest known African Spinach—an 8.3-foot specimen recorded in Benue State in 2018.

Veteran journalist and Ikoro community leader, Mr. Lester Olaifa, first noticed the plant’s towering height and girth during a visit to Pa Ajolokan’s farm. He immediately notified the Director General of the Ekiti State Bureau of Tourism Development, Barrister Wale Ojo-Lanre, at 3:30 a.m. Wednesday.

By 11 a.m., Barrister Ojo-Lanre led a high-profile delegation—including Assistant Director Mr. Olaoluwa Jinadu and officials Bolarinwa Oselusi and Esther Aikopokpodion—to Ikoro-Ekiti for an on-site inspection, joined by Eso-Obe LCDA Chairman Hon. Bankole Ayeni and Mr. Olaifa.

Pa Ajolokan, visibly moved, shared how he planted the spinach in June 2024 and had selectively harvested from other stalks—but spared one particular stem based on a mysterious instinct. That untouched stalk continued to grow, surpassing all expectations.

“This plant has a spirit,” Pa Ajolokan said. “Something told me to leave it—and now look what it’s become.”

Protective measures have since been implemented by the local authorities to safeguard the plant, while tourism and agricultural experts begin studying the phenomenon.

The Olukoro of Ikoro-Ekiti, Oba Adebanji Adeleye, praised the swift response from the state and called the plant a symbol of the community’s historic richness. “Ikoro is no stranger to milestones. We built the first storey building with corrugated roofing sheets in the old Ondo, Osun, and Oyo provinces,” he added.

Barrister Ojo-Lanre called the spinach a “tourism and scientific marvel,” crediting the local team’s vigilance and quick action. “This isn’t just an overgrown vegetable—it’s living proof that even the most familiar plants can still surprise us,” he said.

The Bureau has begun formal documentation and consultations with agricultural scientists to explore the biology behind the plant’s extraordinary growth, and potential exhibition or preservation strategies.