L-R: MD/CEO of Agbeyewa Farms Ltd and Matna Foods Ltd, Mr Seyi Aiyeleso; the Ajero of Ijero-Ekiti, Oba Joseph Adebayo; Chairman of Cavista Holdings, Mr John Olajide; the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; the Chairman of Ekiti State Council Traditional Rulers, Oba Adejimi Adu-Alagbado; and the Oloye of Oye Ekiti, Oba Oluwole Ademolaju, during the 3rd annual Agbeyewa Traditional Rulers’ Retreat at Ikogosi Warm Spring and Resort Centre.
At traditional rulers’ retreat, Agbeyewa Farms unveils new cassava initiative
By John Odunayo
Traditional rulers from the three senatorial districts of Ekiti State converged on Ikogosi Resorts for a retreat bordering on development.
The event, the third in the series of Agbeyewa Traditional Rulers Retreat with the theme, ‘Driving economic transformation through sustainable agricultural development’, which had in attendance, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, was yet another moment to drive investment opportunities.
Agbeyewa Farms, an offshoot of Cavista Holdings, which operates cassava farms at Ipao Ekiti, Gede Ekiti and Iyemero Ekiti in Ekiti State has been bringing the traditional rulers together on a yearly basis to reflect on issues of development.
The Chairman of Cavista Holdings, Mr John Olajide, who said his investments in Nigeria were targeted at creating jobs and opportunities for more people, said that thousands were at present working in the Agbeyewa Farms in Ekiti State.
Olajide said, “We all want Nigeria to progress. We want it to industrialize. But we cannot industrialize as a country if you don’t have a successful, large,
mechanized, commercial agriculture system. So, we are making our own contributions to create value and transform lives in Nigeria by investments in agriculture.
“Our investments at Agbeyewa Farms in Ekiti North have helped created opportunities and addressed the insecurity issues there”.
Olajide said that the acquisition in January 2026 by Agbeyewa Farms of Matna Food Limited in Akure, Ondo State “signals our determination to deepen this cassava ecosystem by strengthening our processing capacity and expanding market access.
“With this acquisition, we are investing heavily in the company to grow capacity, expand opportunities for farmers, support food security and create sustainable employment across communities. This is how value is retained within the region and how real economic transformation takes place”.
The Cavista boss, who said that although Nigeria was the largest producer of cassava in the world, farmers lost about 50 per cent post-harvest, said, “At Agbeyewa Farms, we are changing the narrative. We are set to buy cassava from farmers across the Southwest states.
“With the assurance of offtaking cassava, this will boost the farmers’ production and economies and as well prevent post-harvest losses.
“Agriculture, when properly structured, is one of the most powerful drivers of job creation. It has the capacity to absorb talent, stimulate enterprise and support industrial growth. This is how we keep our young people engaged. This is how we reduce migration pressures. This is how we build prosperity that is inclusive and prosperous,” Olajide said.
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Ogunwusi, hailed the Chairman of Cavista Holdings, Olajide, for the investment, food production initiative and job creation opportunity, which had made Agbeyewa Farms one of the biggest cassava farms in the world.
Oba Ogunwusi also commended Olajide for his vision to protect cassava farmers through off-taking their products to prevent post-harvest losses.
The Ooni, who said the traditional rulers’ summit was an avenue to discuss development, said, “If we don’t add value to land, how will things be possible in terms of economic development and youth emancipation? We need a lot of industries to spring up.
He also lauded traditional rulers in the affected areas and Ekiti State in general and as well the state government for creating the conducive atmosphere for the investment to thrive.
He charged traditional rulers, “Let us work together and encourage investors. We need to encourage a lot of investments like this. We need industries”.
The Ooni, who said that cultivation by Agbeyewa Farms of the farmlands in the area erstwhile used by kidnappers had driven away the criminals from the part, urged the Federal Government to use the Agbeyewa Farms model in Ekiti State by turning the vast forests to farmlands as test case to tame youth unemployment and insecurity and as well boost food production in the country.
The Chairman, Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers and the Ogoga of Ikere Ekiti, Oba Adejimi Adu-Alagbado, who lauded Cavista for the investment in Ekiti State, also applauded the decision of Agbeyewa Farms to offtake cassava from farmers in the region.
Oba Adu-Alagbado charged the traditional rulers, “Let us encourage our people to cultivate cassava with Agbeyewa Farm as reliable offtaker”.
The Ogoga, who stressed the need for value-addition, harped on the need for the country’s universities to step up research on further things that could be gotten from cassava.
Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji, represented by the Chief of Staff, Niyi Adebayo, hailed Cavista Holdings’ investment in the state, which he said had boosted job creation and the internally generated revenue of the state.
Oyebanji said that Agbeyewa Farm’s activities in the state had been a boost to the gross domestic product and the state’s obligations to the people, assuring that government would continue to do what would attract investments to the state.
