…To aid alternative and sustainable means of livelihood
Further to cushioning rising food prices and growing concerns over food security in Nigeria, Dangote Cement Plc, Ibese Plant has commissioned and handed over a multi-million Naira state-of-the-art garri and fufu processing plant to Kajola Host Community in Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State.
The company described the project as a strategic intervention aimed at boosting agricultural value addition, reducing post-harvest losses and strengthening livelihoods for rural farmers and women.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, the Ibese Plant Director, Mr. Ayyagari Subbaraidu, said the facility was delivered under the company’s Community Development Agreement (CDA) with its host communities signed in 2022.
He noted that the initiative is designed to support cassava farmers and processors by improving efficiency and expanding income-generating opportunities.
“This project is aimed at improving cassava processing, reducing losses and creating sustainable employment for women and farmers in the community,” he said.
Subbaraidu disclosed that the facility features separate garri and fufu processing units equipped with modern machinery, including a five-tonne-per-day peeling machine, hydraulic presses, frying systems, fermentation basins, solar-powered boreholes and sanitation infrastructure.
He added that the plant is expected to serve as a catalyst for local economic growth by enhancing productivity and supporting small-scale agribusinesses across Kajola and neighbouring communities.
The Plant Director also urged the community and the Project Governance Committee to maintain transparency in the management of the facility to ensure long-term sustainability.
The Ogun State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Bolu Owotomo, who commissioned the Food Processing Plant commended Dangote Cement for its commitment to the socio-economic development of its 17 host communities, describing the facility as a strategic intervention in agricultural value addition and rural empowerment.
Describing the project as a significant boost to the state’s agricultural development agenda and rural industrialization drive, he said the initiative aligns with Governor Dapo Abiodun’s vision of making agriculture a key driver of economic growth through value addition and enterprise development.
The Commissioner disclosed that “over 166,000 farmers, including more than 90,000 cassava farmers, have been registered under the Ogun State Farmers Information Management System (OGFIMS) to benefit from government interventions”.
He urged the community to safeguard the facility and assured residents of the continued support of Governor Dapo Abiodun’s administration towards agricultural development and food security.
