The Ogun State Government, under the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) programme, has inaugurated a Multi-Stakeholder Agribusiness Forum (MAF) aimed at increasing food production and reducing rural poverty.

The forum is designed to strengthen private-sector participation across the agricultural value chain, promote sustainable agribusiness operations, and foster an enabling policy environment for agribusiness growth in the state.

Commissioner for Agriculture, Bolu Owotomo, explained that the MAF will ensure that SAPZ interventions deliver tangible benefits to farmers, particularly youths and women, across the three senatorial districts.

The National Programme Coordinator, Dr. Yusuf Kabir, represented by Mr. Abel Ameh, highlighted that the forum provides a structured platform for dialogue, coordination, and collaboration among all stakeholders—from smallholder farmers to large processors, service providers, financiers, policymakers, and research institutions.

According to him, the forum will strengthen value-chain linkages, promote joint problem-solving, and ensure that SAPZ initiatives align with stakeholders’ needs.

Mrs. Kehinde Jokotoye, State Programme Coordinator, emphasized that SAPZ leverages Ogun’s agricultural strengths, including rice, cassava, palm oil, timber, and cocoa, to attract both local and foreign investment into processing and value addition.

Dr. Oyesanwen Adekunle, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Forestry, noted that the forum brings stakeholders together to accelerate progress in the sector, while Hon. Waliu Owode, Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting farmers through various interventions.

Abdulraheem Waheed, Deputy Commandant of the NSCDC Agro-Rangers Unit in Ogun State, explained that the specialised unit works to resolve farmer–herder conflicts and ensure a safer environment for agricultural activities, thereby boosting food security.

Finally, the newly appointed MAF Chairman, Mr. Olutayo Olushola, described the forum as a significant public-private collaboration and pledged to ensure that farmers benefit maximally across the agricultural value chain.