The Kwara State Government, in collaboration with the Kwara State Association of Nigerians in the United Kingdom, has inaugurated an ultra-modern cassava processing factory in Osin-Pakate, Ilorin East Local Government Area of the state.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony on Tuesday, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Afees Abolore-Alabi, said the cooperative-led initiative aligns with the state’s agricultural development priorities.
He described the project as a significant milestone in strengthening cassava value addition and agro-processing in Kwara.
Abolore-Alabi noted that the initiative demonstrates how farmer organizations, supported by appropriate policies and strategic partnerships, can drive sustainable agribusiness growth.
According to him, cassava value addition plays a critical role in reducing post-harvest losses, improving product quality, increasing farmers’ incomes and creating employment opportunities for youths and women.
He added that the project would contribute to food security, the supply of industrial raw materials and rural economic development.
The commissioner acknowledged the partnership between the state government and diaspora stakeholders, describing the collective investment as a strong vote of confidence in cassava production and processing opportunities in the state.
Abolore-Alabi emphasized that cooperative organizations remain a key pillar in the government’s strategy for inclusive agricultural development.
“The role of the Kwara State Government is to provide an enabling environment through supportive policies, infrastructure development, capacity building and strategic collaboration with cooperatives and the private sector.
“The progress being recorded across the cassava value chain reflects the administration’s commitment to agricultural transformation through investor-friendly policies and strategic partnerships,” he said.
He explained that the factory is expected to process cassava into products such as garri, high-quality cassava flour, starch and other value-added derivatives for household consumption and industrial use.
According to him, the initiative complements ongoing efforts to strengthen the cassava value chain through improved access to inputs, extension services and market linkages aimed at boosting productivity and profitability for farmers across the state.
In his remarks, Dr Mustapha Salawu, Chairman of the Kwara State Association of Nigerians in the UK Farmers, commended the state government for creating an enabling environment that made the project possible.
He encouraged Nigerians in the diaspora, particularly indigenes of Kwara State, to invest back home as a means of contributing to community development, state growth and national progress.
Salawu noted that the state’s vast arable land and strategic location as a gateway between northern and southern Nigeria make it an attractive destination for agricultural and agribusiness investment.
According to him, the cassava factory is expected to reduce post-harvest losses, improve market access for farmers and stimulate economic activities in Osin-Pakate and neighboring communities.
