A renowned food scientist and Chairman of Shine Bridge Global Incorporated, Dr. Tony Bello has called for the establishment of a youth- and women-driven agribusiness structure to fully harness Nigeria’s renewed commitment to cassava export.
In a statement issued Tuesday in Abuja, Bello emphasized that the recent cassava export initiative, announced by Vice President Sen. Kashim Shettima, marks a turning point for the nation’s food security, foreign exchange generation, and industrial competitiveness.
He stressed the urgent need to integrate women and youth into the cassava export framework, insisting that the presidential pronouncement must trigger concrete, accountable action.
“The President and Vice President have spoken with clarity; now we must act with urgency. This cassava-for-export mandate must not become another elite-driven policy,” Bello stated.
“We need to mobilize Nigerian women and youth as active stakeholders, not just passive beneficiaries of this movement.”
Bello underscored that excluding women and youth from structured agribusiness efforts would hinder progress and exacerbate inequality.
To drive sustainable implementation, the expert advocated for a private-sector-led model through institutions like the proposed Nigeria Cassava Industrialisation Council (NCIC), working in collaboration with government agencies and development partners.
He also called for a talent exchange program that links Nigerian professionals in the diaspora with local innovators, processors, and farmer cooperatives—aimed at scaling production, improving processing efficiency, and meeting global standards.
“Nigeria must avoid a repeat of failed MoUs and empty speeches. The NCIC should be established with youth and women at its core,” he said.
“We must prioritize youth-led clusters and female-owned cooperatives across cassava value chains, while also mandating Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)-driven investments from multinationals benefiting from starch import waivers.”
Bello recommended the creation of a national “cassava-for-export” dashboard to track milestones, ensure transparency, and measure impact.
He further urged strategic partnerships with diaspora professionals in engineering, food science, and investment strategy.
Additionally, Bello announced that Shine Bridge Global, in collaboration with Nigerian and international institutions, is set to launch cassava-based export products—including “RootiFufu,” “RootiBake,” and “RootiBites.”
These products, he said, are being developed by focused groups of youth and women to showcase Nigeria’s capacity for gluten-free, Africa-rooted food innovation.
