The Ogun State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to transforming the State into a leading agro-industrial destination through strategic public-private partnerships and deliberate agricultural interventions.
Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Hon. Bolu Owotomo, made this known when a team from Izidonga Group/Maya Foods, South Africa, led by Mr. Zakhele Maya, paid him a visit at Oke-Mosan, said that Governor Dapo Abiodun’s administration was focused on creating economic growth and prosperity by strengthening collaboration between the public and private sectors.
Owotomo, pointed out that, within the last two years, the State had developed one of the most comprehensive agricultural data systems in Nigeria through partnerships with international development organisations, adding that the initiative involved the engagement of innovators who moved across the State to register farmers and map their farmlands, while also capturing critical information across the agricultural value chain.
“We are trying to know where all our farmers are in the State, beyond farmers, we also registered input dealers, agro-dealers, mechanisation service providers, off-takers, applicators and other actors within the value chain. That means we now know where everybody is, within the agricultural ecosystem, ‘’ he said.
The Commissioner explained that the database would enable the State to implement more targeted and efficient intervention programmes for farmers and agribusiness operators, noting that the State’s reputation as Nigeria’s industrial capital was closely linked to its strategic advantages, including security, proximity to agro-based raw materials and access to major markets.
“Ogun State is secure and apart from that, it is the closest source to agro-based raw materials, which explains why many agro-allied industries are located here,” he added.
He revealed that the State had been described as the “Gateway State” because of its strategic location which is nearest Lagos, while sharing boundaries with several Nigerian States and the Republic of Benin, stressing that this geographical advantage had positioned it as a major destination for trade and agribusiness investment, while assuring the team the State’s maximum support for their investment.
Also at the meeting was the Secretary of the Obafemi Owode Local Government, Hon. Kayode Dipeolu, who represented the Chairman, Amb. Lanre Ogunsola, who described the collaboration as strategic and a significant step towards unlocking agricultural potentials, stimulating economic opportunities, improving livelihoods and agricultural transformation in the Local Government and the State at large. He expressed appreciation to the Ministry for its continued support towards agricultural development across the State.
The Chairman revealed that the South African partners were already discussing investment opportunities inherent in the local government area, with interest in establishing a modern, integrated agribusiness system, covering production, processing, farming, storage and distribution, adding that the proposed investment aligned with the State government’s agricultural transformation agenda and national food security goals, aimed at reducing import dependence and promoting agro-industrial development.
Ogunsola stressed that the success of the initiative would depend heavily on institutional backing, policy alignment and technical cooperation from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, appealed for support in critical areas such as regulatory compliance, farmer integration programmes, extension services and technical guidance, while reassuring the investors that the council would provide an enabling environment for investment, as well as working closely with the State Government to ensure smooth implementation of the project.
“We are confident that with the Ministry’s support, this project will not only thrive but also serve as a model for public-private partnership in the agricultural sector within the state and beyond,’’ he said.
The team lead and CEO, Mr. Zakhele Maya, appreciated the State delegate led by the Commissioner, expressed interest in establishing an integrated poultry value chain project aimed at boosting local production, creating jobs and strengthening agricultural development through public-private partnerships.
He explained that the investment would focus on developing a fully integrated agricultural system capable of supporting local production while reducing dependence on imports, noting that the project would involve the establishment of hatcheries, breeder farms, broiler farms, feed production facilities and support infrastructure designed to create a sustainable poultry ecosystem.
He added that the objective was to build an integrated agricultural value chain that would stimulate industrial growth, create employment opportunities and support the development of small and medium-scale businesses linked to the poultry sector, describing the host community as strategically positioned for agricultural expansion, noting that the area possesses the necessary ingredients to support a strong and integrated poultry production system.
He explained that the scale and intensity of the proposed operations would increase demand for extension services, technical support and agricultural inputs, particularly in areas such as daily hatchery and poultry management.
Maya reiterated his commitment to working closely with Government institutions and local stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of the project and long-term sustainability of the poultry value chain initiative.