In a significant boost to Nigeria's agricultural landscape, Vice-President Kashim Shettima, African Development Bank (AfDB) President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, and Oyo State Governor 'Seyi Makinde today broke ground for the Oyo State Agribusiness Industrial Hub in Ijaiye.
This landmark project, part of the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) initiative, promises to unlock immense economic potential, create jobs, and bolster food security across the region.
Representing Vice-President Shettima, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, commended Governor Makinde's unwavering commitment to developing Oyo State through agriculture.
He emphasized that the Ijaiye hub signifies a strategic partnership between the state, other federal states, and the Federal Government, aligning with Nigeria's future of transforming agricultural resources into high-value products. The Vice-President assured federal support to help Oyo State realize its full potential as an agricultural powerhouse.
Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the AfDB, lauded Governor Makinde as an "exemplary, efficient, visionary, and passionate" leader. He highlighted the critical role of agribusiness in driving economic growth, reducing post-harvest losses, and generating employment. Dr. Adesina also acknowledged the support of President Bola Tinubu and Vice-President Shettima for the SAPZ initiative, which is now being implemented in 28 sites across 11 African countries with significant investment from the AfDB.
Governor Makinde, in his address, reaffirmed the Ijaiye Agribusiness Industrial Hub as a key pillar of the Oyo State Roadmap for Sustainable Development (2023-2027).
He emphasized the state's commitment to repositioning agriculture as a commercial force, attracting investors, creating youth employment, and sustaining the economy.
Citing the success of the Fasola Agro-Industrial Hub, which has already attracted N11.1 billion in private sector investment and transformed the local economy, Governor Makinde expressed confidence that the Ijaiye hub would yield similar results.
"Today is about promises kept," Governor Makinde stated, underscoring that the hubs are strategically designed as interconnected anchors of the state's agribusiness ecosystem, bringing producers closer to processors and linking farms to markets.
He also noted that the project is built on the vision of the old Western Region's farm settlements, with only a fraction of the vast 12,000 hectares acquired then being developed in this phase.
The Governor assured that plans for additional hubs in Ipapo, Ilora, and Iresa-Adu would be designed and handed over to the next administration, ensuring widespread development across all geopolitical zones.
Dr. Debo Akande, Director-General of OYSADA, projected that the state's agribusiness industrial hubs would accommodate over 40 agricultural industries, create over 100,000 jobs, and improve the livelihoods of more than 500,000 farmers, transitioning them from subsistence to medium and large-scale farming.
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