At the 2025 World Cassava Day held in Abuja, Nigerian leaders and private sector players reaffirmed the country's growing reliance on cassava as a driver of economic development especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Cavista Holdings and its agribusiness subsidiary, Agbeyewa Farms, announced a major investment in cassava cultivation, with 5,000 hectares already under development. Their efforts are geared towards boosting local processing and creating a thriving value chain that supports SMEs across agro-processing, logistics, packaging, and exports.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, in his keynote address, described cassava as both a tool for food security and a catalyst for wealth creation. He noted that the federal government is committed to turning cassava into a pillar for industrialisation, rural jobs, and import substitution.
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Cavista Holdings Chairman, Niyi Olajide, echoed this sentiment, calling cassava a "strategic asset" for Nigeria's economic diversification. He praised the Tinubu administration's Renewed Hope Agenda and emphasized the role of private sector collaboration in building inclusive growth for small businesses, especially in rural areas.
Agbeyewa Farms is already making significant strides with over 1,000 direct jobs created and a yield rate that surpasses national averages. According to Managing Director Seyi Ayeleso, their vision includes not just farming, but also processing cassava into products like starch, flour, and ethanol—creating market opportunities for SMEs in food, beverage, and industrial supply sectors.
Through a partnership with the Ekiti State Government, Agbeyewa is helping to demonstrate how agriculture, when approached with innovation and community backing, can unlock opportunities for Nigerian entrepreneurs and small businesses across the value chain.
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