In a move to revolutionise agriculture and rural development in Nigeria, Vice President Kashim Shettima, African Development Bank (AfDB) President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde on Saturday performed the groundbreaking ceremony for the Ijaiye Agribusiness Industrial Hub in Akinyele Local Government, under the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) programme.
The initiative, described as a game-changer for Nigeria’s food economy, is part of the Oyo State Roadmap for Sustainable Development, 2023–2027, and aims to transform agriculture from subsistence to a commercial and industrial powerhouse for job creation, investment attraction, and food security.
Representing the Vice President at the event, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, conveyed Shettima’s message of support for the hub, noting that it would unlock economic opportunities, enhance agricultural productivity, and serve as a strategic model for collaboration between the federal and state governments.
He said, “This is more than a state project—it is a national asset. Nigeria’s future lies in transforming agriculture into an industrial force. We are proud of Governor Makinde’s leadership and commitment to driving development through agriculture.”
Governor Seyi Makinde, who spearheaded the hub’s development, said the Ijaiye SAPZ represents a tangible fulfilment of his administration’s promise to industrialise agriculture in every geopolitical zone of the state.
Makinde stated, “We started with Fasola in Oyo Zone, then Eruwa in Ibarapa Zone, and now we are in Ibadan Zone with the Ijaiye Hub. Our goal is clear: create agribusiness hubs that connect producers to processors, markets, and export opportunities.”
The governor also revealed that the Ijaiye site is part of a larger 12,000-hectare farm settlement acquired during the old Western Region era, of which 3,000 hectares will be developed—300 hectares as the industrial core of the hub.
He confirmed plans to replicate the model in Ilora, Ipapo, and Iresa-Adu, promising to hand over blueprints to the next administration in 2027.
“This isn’t just about food—it’s about infrastructure, enterprise, jobs, and economic sovereignty. We’re changing poverty into prosperity, one community at a time, “Makinde added.
AfDB President Adesina lauded Makinde as a visionary and result-driven leader, citing the success of the Fasola Agribusiness Hub, which now hosts over ₦11.1 billion in private investment.
“Governor Makinde is not just talking—he’s delivering. Fasola was moribund; now it’s thriving. This is what leadership looks like,” Adesina said.
He also highlighted the scale of the SAPZ programme, noting that AfDB has committed $934 million, with an additional $938 million mobilised, to support 28 SAPZ projects across 11 African countries.
He said, “Nigeria can and must become a global agricultural powerhouse. We are proud that this revolution is being led right here in Oyo State.”
In his remark, the Director-General of the Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency (OYSADA), Dr. Debo Akande, emphasised that the SAPZ model would transform villages into agro-industrial clusters, helping smallholders transition into medium and large-scale commercial farmers.
