Agbeyewa and the Drive to Strengthen Ties with Traditional Rulers – THISDAYLIVE

In line with its corporate social responsibility philosophy, the management of Agbeyewa Farms in Ekiti State has consistently created a platform for traditional rulers as part of its stakeholders’ engagement to strengthening collaboration between traditional institutions and agribusiness to boost local revenue. Raheem Akingbolu reports.

To the management of Agbeyewa Farms Limited, a leading global cassava farms, the place of traditional rulers as strategic partners and custodians of African heritage can not be downplayed if indeed Nigeria is keen about changing the narrative about the importance of agriculture to national economy. As a result of this, the organisation had three years ago instituted a special retreat for Ekiti traditional rulers for adequate engagement and feedback.

At the 3rd Annual Traditional Rulers Retreat, held at the Ikogosi Warm Springs Resort, recently and attended by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi and top government functinaries, the company reinforced its partnership with the traditional institutions as part of efforts to drive grassroots job creation and accelerate Nigeria’s agricultural transformation.

With 45 Ekiti traditional rulers in attendance, the company made a strong statement on collaboration and engagement of stakeholders to enhance economic development.

Among other things, the event focused on driving economic growth, community development, and sustainable agriculture, specifically leveraging the cassava value chain, with Governor Biodun Oyebanji representative opening the event.

Speaking on the theme: “Driving Economic Transformation Through Sustainable Agricultural Development” the Managing Director of the company, Oska Seyi Ayeleso, said the initiative aligned with the agricultural agenda of the Ekiti State government to enhance food security and agro-processing.

Chairman of Agbeyewa Farms, Niyi John-Olajide, praised the royal fathers for their unwavering support, describing their collaboration as central to advancing his vision of large-scale employment across rural communities.

He noted that the retreat provides an avenue to assure host communities that Agbeyewa’s operations are focused not on land control, but on creating shared economic value. According to him, the company’s expansion strategy—including the acquisition of Matna Foods—is aimed at strengthening the cassava value chain by guaranteeing consistent offtake for farmers.

Olajide further revealed that the company has deployed modern farming technologies capable of boosting cassava yields from six tonnes per hectare to as much as 30 tonnes, urging farmers to increase production to meet rising demand.

In his remarks, the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi, called for deeper collaboration among government, traditional institutions, and private investors to unlock the vast economic potential of Nigeria’s forest lands. He emphasized that large-scale commercial agriculture could play a critical role in tackling insecurity, particularly kidnapping, by converting idle forests into productive zones.

The monarch pointed to the transformation of Ekiti North—once affected by insecurity but now experiencing improved safety and economic activity—as evidence of the impact of such partnerships. He also urged affluent Nigerians, especially those in the diaspora, to invest in agriculture and industrial ventures to create jobs.

Chairman of the Ekiti State Traditional Council, HRM Oba Samuel Adu Adejimi Alagbado encouraged traditional rulers to continue mobilizing farmers to expand cassava cultivation, assuring them of a ready and reliable market.

Ogoga also commended the Agbeyewa’s workforce, urging them to uphold values of integrity, discipline, and dedication.

Representing Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji, Chief of Staff Oyeniyi Adebayo reiterated the government’s commitment to positioning Agbeyewa as a global leader in cassava production. He highlighted the impact of private sector investments on the state’s economy, noting that Ekiti’s GDP has grown significantly from ₦2.4 trillion in 2022 to nearly ₦5 trillion.

He added that the government is actively working to resolve land disputes to create a more investor-friendly climate.

Delivering the keynote address, Prof. Charity Aremu identified persistent challenges facing farmers, including limited access to credit, poor infrastructure, and inadequate inputs. She commended Agbeyewa’s structured offtake model for addressing some of these issues and encouraged traditional rulers to promote youth participation in agriculture.

Prof. Aremu also urged Nigeria to adopt best practices from countries like Tailand, where farmers benefit from mechanization, improved seedlings, irrigation systems, and better rural infrastructure.

Meanwhile, Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, called on residents to collaborate with traditional institutions in reporting suspicious activities, assuring that security agencies would intensify efforts to maintain peace and stability across the state.