MASISI HAILS ‘VISIONARY’ AGRIBUSINESS REVOLUTION AT AGBEYEWA FARMS; URGES POLICIES TO UNLOCK AFRICA’S AGRICULTURAL POTENTIAL.
Immediate past President of Botswana, His Excellency Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi, left stakeholders in Nigeria’s agribusiness sector and Ekiti State buzzing last week after an inspiring and high-profile tour of Agbeyewa Farms — one of Africa’s fastest-growing agricultural enterprises headquartered in Ekiti, Ikole Local Government area.
Describing what he witnessed as “nothing short of extraordinary”, Masisi said he was deeply impressed by the scale of cassava cultivation, the innovation in farm technology, and the strategic vision of the leadership at Agbeyewa — particularly Chairman Niyi John Olajide and the entire management team under the spirited leadership of Managing Director & CEO, Oska Seyi Ayeleso.
“What Agbeyewa Farms has achieved in three short years is a lesson in ambition, resilience, and effective management,” Masisi said during his visit. “This kind of large-scale commercial farming, especially when done with modern technology and strong human capital development, is transformational — not just for Nigeria, but for Africa’s agribusiness future.”
From Subsistence to Strategic Enterprise
Masisi — himself a farmer by background — underscored the fundamental difference between subsistence agriculture and a high-performance, structured agribusiness like Agbeyewa. He noted that while smallholder farming remains the backbone of rural livelihoods across Africa, enterprises like Agbeyewa Farms, which plan and execute at scale, offer a compelling blueprint for the continent’s agricultural transformation.
“What I have seen here is not random farming — it is strategic agriculture,” Masisi observed. “It’s about integrating cultivation with processing, adding value, and creating sustainable jobs for rural people. This is what Africa needs if we are to meet both domestic and global food and industrial demands.”
Masisi reserved special praise for Agbeyewa’s management team, highlighting their dedication, professionalism, and execution discipline. “The management under Oska Seyi Ayeleso is exemplary,” he remarked. “Their capacity to mobilize resources, drive operational excellence, and engage with local communities shows a leadership that goes beyond routine management — it is visionary stewardship.”
Ayeleso, Masisi noted, has deftly balanced agricultural productivity with social impact, ensuring that the farm not only produces high-quality cassava but also empowers rural youth, women, and host communities with meaningful employment, skills training, and economic opportunities.
A major focus of Masisi’s remarks was the policy environment necessary to boost agricultural investments. He urged Nigerian federal and state governments to implement incentives such as tax breaks, regulatory reforms, and agricultural subsidies — aligning with global best practices that have helped other countries grow robust agricultural sectors. “There is nowhere in the world where agriculture is not subsidized,” he said, emphasizing that supportive policy frameworks from both the state and the federal governments are not a burden but an engine for rural employment, sustainable nutrition, and economic prosperity.
Masisi also broadened his remarks to highlight the potential of Nigeria’s wildlife economy, urging stakeholders to explore tourism and wildlife conservation as additional avenues for revenue — a major economic pillar in Botswana.
Chairman, Niyi John Olajide in his response reaffirmed Agbeyewa’s commitment to expanding the entire cassava value chain. He outlined plans for deeper integration into processing — producing, cassava starch, high-quality flour, and other derivatives — to ensure that the company continues to generate broader economic impact and support industrial growth.
The visit by Masisi, therefore, was more than a diplomatic courtesy; it was a strong endorsement of Nigeria’s agricultural potential and the mission-driven leadership of Agbeyewa Farms in Nigeria, particularly in Ekiti State. It highlighted the possibilities that emerge when visionary entrepreneurship, sound management, and sustained government support converge — a combination that could redefine agribusiness across Africa.
Signed
Dauda Lawal
Director of Community Engagement and Communications
Agbeyewa Farms Limited
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