Origin Automobile Works has outlined a vision to help build a new generation of modern, digitally empowered Nigerian farmers, positioning science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation at the core of agricultural and rural development.
The Executive Chairman of Origin Tech Group, Prince Samuel Joseph Samuel, said technology-driven solutions must be treated as a breakthrough strategy for removing long-standing bottlenecks in agriculture, boosting value addition, and improving the quality and competitiveness of agricultural products. According to him, Nigeria’s agricultural future depends on farmers who are driven by knowledge, creativity, digital capability, and resilience.
He said this new breed of farmers would play a critical role in strengthening national food systems, improving productivity, and positioning locally produced agricultural goods more competitively in global markets, while also supporting the emergence of a more modern and sustainable rural economy.
Prince Samuel stressed that agriculture, farmers, and rural communities must remain central to national development planning, noting that mechanisation, innovation, and digital tools would be decisive in unlocking productivity and long-term growth across the sector. This position was reaffirmed by the OAW Board of Directors during a recent three-day strategic retreat held at the Lakowe Lakes Golf and Country Estate Resort in Lagos.
The retreat, themed “Building Institutional Strength to Accelerate Growth,” brought together board members and executive leadership to review the organisation’s performance, strengthen governance structures and set strategic priorities for the coming years. Discussions went beyond routine board matters, with a focus on long-term sustainability, risk management, and operational efficiency.
During the session, the board reviewed achievements recorded under OAW’s five-year strategic plan covering 2020 to 2025 and laid the groundwork for a new strategic framework that will guide the organisation from 2026 to 2030. The board also considered measures to refine the company’s mission and values in line with sustainable development goals, recognising the need for a more dynamic approach to consolidating OAW’s contributions to agricultural mechanisation and Nigeria’s food systems.
Prince Samuel described the retreat as a turning point for the organisation, saying the alignment between the board and management reflected a clear understanding of the evolving needs of the agricultural sector. He said OAW emerged from the retreat with renewed energy and a concrete roadmap to drive growth, improve productivity in agro-mechanisation and introduce new technologies that will benefit farmers and agribusinesses.
Also speaking, the Executive Director, Corporate Services, Olusesan Ayeni, said key outcomes from the retreat included approval of a growth-focused strategic plan for Nigeria’s agricultural and food systems space, stronger collaboration between the board and executive management, and the launch of new capital investment and funding initiatives.
He added that the level of engagement demonstrated by board members reflected a strong commitment to positioning OAW to respond effectively to emerging challenges and opportunities across the agricultural value chain, while ensuring long-term institutional sustainability.
