Amanze ChinonyeThe Vice President of Nigeria, Senator Kashim Shettima, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, and Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Saturday jointly launched the Ijaiye Agribusiness Industrial Hub in Oyo State under the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) initiative.
The groundbreaking ceremony took place at Atan Village in Akinyele Local Government Area. Representing Vice President Shettima at the event was the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, who described the Ijaiye hub as a catalyst for food security and rural transformation.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelKyari, conveying the Vice President’s remarks, said the federal government remained committed to working with sub-national governments to reposition agriculture as an engine for industrial growth. “Nigeria’s future lies in transforming agriculture into value-added products that enhance industries, create jobs, and uplift farmers,” he said.
Governor Makinde said the new hub aligns with his administration’s Roadmap for Sustainable Development (2023–2027), which prioritizes agriculture as a core pillar of economic growth. According to him, Ijaiye is the latest in a string of agro-industrial hubs following Fasola and Eruwa, with additional sites planned in Ilora, Ipapo, and Iresa-Adu.
“This is about delivering on our promises,” Makinde declared. “These hubs are designed to anchor our agribusiness ecosystem. They link producers to processors and bring farms closer to markets.”
He noted that the Ijaiye farm settlement originally spanning 12,000 hectares since the Western Region era would have 3,000 hectares developed under the SAPZ programme, with 300 hectares dedicated to industrial use
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Makinde added that the success of the Fasola Agribusiness Hub, which has attracted 12 agro-investors and spurred rural economic revival, gave confidence that Ijaiye would replicate similar outcomes.
AfDB President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina praised Makinde as an “action-driven governor” and reiterated the bank’s commitment to agricultural transformation across Africa. “Food is key to peace, security, and prosperity,” Adesina said. “This is why AfDB has invested over $934 million in SAPZs across 11 African Countries, including Nigeria.”
He emphasized the importance of linking farming communities to markets through integrated value chains and acknowledged President Bola Tinubu’s administration for backing the SAPZ programme.
AfDB’s Director-General for Nigeria, Dr. Abdul Kamara, said the Ijaiye hub fits into the bank’s broader rural transformation strategy. “This facility will help improve rural livelihoods and expand agricultural value chains,” he stated.
National SAPZ Coordinator, Dr. Kabir Yusuf, said the hub would focus on processing local commodities produced by both smallholder and commercial farmers, with a view to reducing raw exports and scaling up value-added production.
Director-General of the Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency (OYSADA), Dr. Debo Akande, said the Ijaiye hub would host over 40 agro-industrial firms, support half a million farmers, and generate more than 100,000 jobs.
Also present were Director-General of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Dr. Simeon Ehui, and Chairman of the Ijaiye Farm Settlers, Chief Olatunji, both of whom commended the state’s efforts in repositioning agriculture for development.
Dignitaries at the event included former Oyo State Governor, Gen. Oladayo Popoola (Rtd), Deputy Governor Bayo Lawal, members of the National and State Assemblies, traditional rulers, and senior officials from the judiciary and PDP.
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