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IBADAN, Oyo State – The Director-General of Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency (OYSADA) and Executive Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde FNSE DSc GSSRS on Agribusiness and International Cooperation, Dr. Debo Akande DBA CMGR FCMI, has hailed the transformation of the former OYSADEP Agricultural Equipment Fabrication and Training Centre, Apata, Ibadan, as a compelling example of the impact of strategic private sector participation in agricultural development.
Dr. Akande disclosed that the facility, which was once moribund and underutilized, has been successfully revitalized through a partnership between OYSADA and Niji Group. The centre has now evolved into a modern agro-industrial hub that is actively driving economic growth, creating jobs, advancing agricultural mechanization, and strengthening value addition across Oyo State.
According to the OYSADA boss, the Niji Group Equipment Fabrication Centre now performs critical functions that reinforce the state’s agribusiness ecosystem. These include the local fabrication of agricultural machinery, provision of equipment maintenance and servicing, tractor leasing services for farmers at affordable rates, and processing of agricultural produce to reduce post-harvest losses.
He further revealed that the facility currently processes over 6,000 tonnes of cassava annually, positioning it as one of the notable success stories under OYSADA’s drive to attract and support private-sector-led investments in agriculture.
“The transformation of the Apata facility demonstrates what can be achieved when government intentionally creates an enabling environment for investors,” Dr. Akande stated. “It is a practical example of how agribusiness can stimulate industrial development, create employment opportunities, improve farmers’ productivity, and contribute significantly to economic growth.”
Dr. Akande also disclosed that the revived Apata Agro Hub has directly generated over 300 jobs for residents of Apata and its environs. The employment opportunities cut across equipment fabrication, processing, maintenance, logistics, and administration, thereby reducing unemployment and improving livelihoods within the community.
The OYSADA Director-General emphasized that the success of the Apata project aligns with the vision of Governor Seyi Makinde to position Oyo State as a leading agribusiness destination in Nigeria through innovation, infrastructure development, investment attraction, and sustainable partnerships.
He reaffirmed OYSADA’s commitment, under Governor Makinde’s leadership, to continue attracting more investors into the agricultural sector while expanding opportunities for value addition, rural development, and food security across the state.
Dr. Akande noted that the Apata model is not an isolated case but a template that OYSADA intends to replicate in other parts of Oyo State. He explained that the Makinde administration’s focus on making agriculture profitable and industrialized is gradually yielding results, with farmers, processors, and youths now seeing agriculture as a viable economic pathway.
“The goal is to move agriculture from subsistence to a thriving, industrialized sector. With more private sector collaborations like the one with Niji Group, Oyo State will continue to lead in agribusiness transformation and rural prosperity,” he added.
The revitalization of the Apata facility underscores the commitment of the Makinde administration to economic diversification through agriculture, and reinforces Oyo State’s reputation as a pacesetter in leveraging private sector collaboration for sustainable development.
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