The Ogun State Government has inaugurated a Multi-stakeholder Agribusiness Forum (MAF) under its Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) program, aimed at strengthening private sector participation in the agricultural value chain, enhancing the sustainability of agribusiness operations, and fostering an enabling policy environment for agribusiness growth.
The Commissioner for Agriculture, Bolu Owotomo, announced the forum during a two-day high-level engagement on its establishment. He explained that MAF will ensure SAPZ interventions deliver tangible benefits to farmers, particularly youths and women, while reiterating Governor Dapo Abiodun’s commitment to agricultural transformation, food security, poverty reduction, and job creation.
National Programme Coordinator Dr. Yusuf Kabir, represented by the National Rural Institution and Development Expert, Abel Ameh, highlighted that the forum provides a structured platform for dialogue, coordination, and collaboration among key value chain actors, including smallholder farmers, large processors, service providers, financiers, policymakers, and research institutions.
Kabir added that the forum is designed to strengthen value-chain linkages, encourage joint problem-solving, and ensure SAPZ interventions align with the needs of all stakeholders. “This forum will catalyse inclusive growth, promoting shared ownership, transparency, and accountability in the implementation of SAPZ activities. It will also bridge the information gap between producers and markets, facilitate policy coherence, and accelerate the adoption of innovations that can make agribusiness in Ogun State more competitive and resilient,” he said.
The launch of the MAF marks a significant step toward empowering farmers, encouraging private sector investment, and driving sustainable agribusiness development in Ogun State.
