The Ogun State government has inaugurated a Multi-Stakeholder Agribusiness Forum (MAF) under the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) programme, marking a significant step towards transforming the state’s agricultural sector through agro-industrialisation, improved productivity, job creation, and poverty reduction.
The two-day high-level engagement brought together government officials, private-sector players, development partners, and key actors across the agricultural value chain to formalise the establishment of the forum.
State Commissioner for Agriculture, Bolu Owotomo, explained that the forum aims to enhance private-sector participation, improve sustainability in agribusiness operations, and support a policy environment conducive to growth.
He added that the MAF would ensure SAPZ initiatives deliver concrete benefits to farmers, particularly young people and women, while reinforcing Governor Dapo Abiodun’s commitment to food security and rural development.
Representing the National Programme Coordinator of SAPZ, Abel Ameh, highlighted the forum as a structured platform for collaboration among farmers, processors, service providers, financiers, policymakers, and research institutions.
“This forum will act as a catalyst for inclusive growth, promoting shared ownership, transparency, and accountability. It will bridge information gaps, facilitate policy coherence, and accelerate innovation to make agribusiness in Ogun State more competitive and resilient,” he said.
State Programme Coordinator, Kehinde Jokotoye, emphasised that the SAPZ programme is strategically positioned to leverage Ogun State’s rich agricultural resources, including rice, cassava, oil palm, timber, and cocoa, to attract local and foreign investment in processing and value addition.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Forestry and MAF facilitator, Dr Oyesanwen Adekunle, stated that bringing stakeholders together under a unified forum would accelerate progress in the sector.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, Hon. Waliu Owode, reaffirmed the government’s ongoing support for farmers through various intervention programmes.
The Deputy Commandant of the NSCDC Agro-Rangers Unit, Abdulraheem Waheed, explained that the unit was established to address farmer–herder conflicts and ensure a secure environment for agricultural activities, supporting national food security efforts.
Newly appointed MAF Chairman Olutayo Olushola described the forum as a landmark public-private partnership, pledging to ensure that farmers receive maximum benefits along the value chain.
Source: Vanguard
