Odu’a Investment Company Limited (OICL) is a diversified conglomerate with investments across Real Estate, Hospitality, Equipment Leasing, Agriculture and Agribusiness, Construction and Manufacturing, Financial Services, Digital Technology, and Oil & Gas. OICL is also actively identifying and pursuing opportunities in emerging sectors, including Energy, Logistics, Healthcare, and Mining. 

Odu’a Investment is a pivotal player in Nigeria’s agribusiness sector, particularly in the Southwest, where it serves as both a source of livelihood and a driver of economic growth. By financing and transforming agriculture, the company supports key areas such as crop farming, agro-processing, and agricultural technology.

Odu’a Investment also stands as a symbol of regional collaboration and economic foresight, being jointly owned by the six Southwestern states.

A Brief History of Odu’a Investment Company

Odu’a Investment was incorporated in July 1976 and commenced operations on October 1, 1976, to take over the business interests of the former Western State of Nigeria. It is jointly owned by the six South-Western states: Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, and Lagos.

Since its inception, over 70% of OICL’s business has focused on investments and joint ventures with other companies. Its early portfolio spanned a wide range of industries, including integrated textile mills, breweries, commercial banking, insurance, real estate, livestock, fisheries, food and beverages, chemical and mechanical manufacturing, hotel and catering, vehicle distribution, LPG bottling and marketing, and publishing.

The company also owns significant real estate in prime locations such as Ikeja Residential/Industrial Estates and Apapa in Lagos State, as well as various commercial and residential properties in Ibadan, including the Aje House.

Odu’a Investment Company Limited Now

Odu’a Investment Company Limited has a mandate to deliver sustainable value to stakeholders while preserving and strengthening their legacy for future generations through strategic, qualitative, and responsible investment management. 

Subsidiaries under Odu’a Investment include:

1. Wemabod Estate Limited
2. Cocoa Industries Limited 
3. Glanvill Enthoven Insurance Brokers and Pensions Consultants
4. Lagos Airport Hotel Limited
5. Western Hotels Limited (Premier Hotel, Ibadan; Lafia Hotel, Ibadan)
6. E&O Power and Equipment Leasing Limited
7. Westlink Integrated Agriculture Limited (a subsidiary of SWAgCo)

Over the years, it has diversified into numerous sectors represented by each subsidiary, including real estate, hospitality, construction, and notably, agriculture and agribusiness.

Odu’a’s Investment Focus on Agriculture/Agribusiness 

Agriculture is a cornerstone of Odu’a’s Investment origins. Odu’a’s Investment engagements in agriculture are broad and targeted, and not just investing in farming; it is executing a comprehensive, integrated strategy to finance and transform the entire agricultural ecosystem.

South West Agricultural Company Limited (SWAgCo): South West Agricultural Company Limited (SWAgCo) is a subsidiary of Odu’a Investment Company Limited (OICL). SWAgCo is the agribusiness arm of Odu’a, which leverages the company’s land assets and engages in partnerships to industrialise agriculture, create jobs, and build food security. SWAgCo also serves as an aid for agricultural transformation in the Southwest region of Nigeria. 

Westlink Integrated Agriculture Limited (WIAL): Westlink Integrated Agriculture Limited specialises in developing a commercially sustainable and scalable model for producing staple crops and tightly integrating market needs with nuclear farms and ingrowers, taking advantage of economies of scale, technology and extension services.

Odu’a’s focus areas in agriculture can be grouped under four central pillars:

1. Commodity and Value Chain Focus: This aspect of Odu’a’s agricultural investment focuses on large-scale farming and value-chain integration, encompassing crop production, processing, storage, and distribution. Much of this work is executed by SWAgCo, which builds partnerships and joint ventures with private firms to unlock investment. Some projects include:

• ₦10 billion Joint Ventures: In 2025, SWAgCo signed joint ventures worth ₦10 billion with multiple partners to foster agro-industrialisation.
• Cocoa Plantation JV with Starlink Global & Ideal Ltd: A ₦4.6 billion cocoa plantation project was launched with Starlink Global & Ideal Limited and PETAGULS Cultivars & Seedling Technologies. It begins with a 100-hectare pilot in Year 1 and will scale to 1,000 hectares by Year 5, located either at Oke-Ako (Ekiti State) or Akunnu (Ondo State).
• Integrated Farming with Foodlocker: Another partnership worth ₦5.2 billion was signed with Foodlocker to develop integrated farming at Odu’a’s Agro-Industrial Hub in Imeko, Ogun State. This project will cover maise, soybeans, sorghum, and beef production. 

2. Youth Empowerment and Micro-Enterprise Projects: Another focus for Odu’a Investment is building future farmers and agripreneurs. By empowering young people through training, access to finance, and modern practices, the company ensures both food security and the creation of wealth.

• SWAgCo–BATNF Maize Micro-Enterprise Project: In collaboration with the British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF), SWAgCo launched a maize project in Oke-Ako, Ekiti State, targeting 100 smallholder farmers. The initiative provides improved seeds, training, extension services, and access to credit and structured markets. The Chairman of SWAgCo, Mr. Owolabi Salami, reiterated SWAgCo’s mission to scale sustainable agricultural development during the launch of Odu’a Agro-Industrial Hub in Ekiti State. According to him, “SWAgCo was established to serve as a catalyst for agro-industrial transformation and to start with supporting 100 maize farmers is just one step in our broader mission to reposition agriculture as a commercially viable and youth-inclusive sector.”
• The SWAgCo–BATNF Maize Micro-Enterprise Project will begin with the training of an initial cohort of 100 Ekiti youths through the  Westlink Integrated Agriculture Company. 

3. Agro-Industrial Hubs and Infrastructure: Odu’a Investment is working to industrialise agriculture by creating hubs that connect the entire ecosystem: land development, input suppliers, mechanisation, extension services, processors, and logistics.

• Oke-Ako Agro-Industrial Hub (Ekiti State): This hub was launched in July 2025 as a pilot agro-industrial park to integrate maize farming with input supply, processing, storage, and logistics. It serves as the operational base for the SWAgCo-BATNF maize project.
• Integrated Facilities: These hubs also provide infrastructure for farmer training, testing, and mechanisation, reducing post-harvest losses and improving efficiency across the value chain. WAILS‘ current line of business and interests are in the processing of tomato paste and cassava into food-grade starch, supported by commercial and mechanised farming of tomato fruits on 300 hectares and cassava tubers on 2,500 hectares.

4. Land and Geographic Scale: SWAgCo manages a significant agricultural land bank inherited from Odu’a’s legacy estates. This resource underpins most of its partnerships and projects.

• 30,000 Hectare Land Bank: SWAgCo oversees about 30,000 hectares of farmland across Ogun, Ekiti, Ondo, and Oyo States, which are being developed through joint ventures. Odu’a has engaged with the Osun State Government to acquire additional land for this bank, aligning with its mandate to drive regional economic prosperity. 

Looking ahead, Odu’a focuses on expanding the scale of its agricultural projects, encouraging more public-private partnerships. Through SWAgCo and WIAL, it acts as a way for the agro-industrial transformation of Nigeria’s Southwest region. 

Its mode, defined by integrated value chain development, strategic public-private partnerships, leveraging a vast land bank, and a strong focus on job creation, is transparent for sustainable agribusiness. 

The ongoing expansion of these initiatives highlights a promising aspect of Nigeria’s agribusiness history, positioning agriculture as a commercially viable and youth-inclusive sector in the region.