The Ogun State Government has taken a major step toward strengthening its agricultural landscape with the launch of a Multi Stakeholder Agribusiness Forum under the Special Agro Industrial Processing Zones programme.
The initiative is aimed at deepening private sector involvement across the agricultural value chain and improving the sustainability of agribusiness operations in the state.
The Commissioner for Agriculture, Bolu Owotomo, announced the development during a two day engagement involving government officials, development partners, and agribusiness operators.
He explained that the new forum will help ensure that interventions delivered through the SAPZ project translate into measurable benefits for farmers, particularly young people and women who are central to the state’s rural economy.
Owotomo also reaffirmed Governor Dapo Abiodun’s commitment to food security, agro industrial growth, and reducing poverty through expanded agricultural opportunities.
The News Chronicle gathered that the forum is expected to serve as a unifying platform for continuous dialogue among stakeholders, addressing long standing gaps in coordination between farmers, processors, service providers, financiers, and research institutions.
Officials believe the structure will help streamline investment interest and ensure that policy decisions remain aligned with the realities of agribusiness operators on the ground.
Representing the National Rural Institution and Development Specialist Abel Ameh, National Programme Coordinator Dr. Yusuf Kabir said the project was a deliberate attempt to strengthen value chain connections.
He said that the forum was meant to improve cooperation, encourage shared responsibility, and enable quicker problem-solving throughout the SAPZ ecosystem.
It aims to promote openness, enhance market information access, and assist farmers in embracing innovative technologies that might increase output, he said.
Stakeholders at the event agreed that the forum marks a significant milestone for Ogun State, particularly at a time when many states are seeking innovative ways to attract agribusiness investment.
The initiative is expected to accelerate rural development, enhance competitiveness, and position Ogun as one of the leading agribusiness hubs in the country.
