Olam Agri in Nigeria, an agribusiness in food, feed and fibre has reaffirmed its commitment to helping Nigeria achieve food security
Olam Agri leverage its impressive scale with presence in the Rice, Sesame, Animal and Fish Feed, Wheat Milling value chains as well as biscuits confectionery and culinary product manufacturing.
He spoke on government reforms to curb inflation, particularly food inflation, and called on the agribusiness to continue deploying its scale, global expertise, and deep resources to engender wider access to quality food and nutrition to the teeming population in a bid to achieve food security.
He said our commitment to driving food security is evidenced by the sprawling investments we keep making to raise productivity in the rice, animal feed and protein, wheat and flour milling, sesame, and edible oils value chains.
“We consistently scale this investment as well, as we expand involvement in various out-grower programmes, research & development, partnerships, collaborations, and the integration of smallholder farmers into various empowerment initiatives for the betterment of Nigeria.
“We do realize that deepening partnership and collaboration with other stakeholders in the economy is crucial to maintaining and sustaining the government’s food security agenda. We are fully aligned with the ongoing fiscal reforms of government and only seek support for an enabling policy framework, and regulatory environment that will not only enable us play our part but stimulate the development of the agricultural value chain,” he added.
The Nigeria-South Africa Chamber of Commerce has urged African nations to deepen economic integration to ensure food security and shared prosperity across the continent.
In his keynote address, the Director of Corporate and Regulatory Affairs at Olam, Ade Adefeko, emphasised that agriculture remains the backbone of the continent’s economy, providing over 50 per cent of jobs.
Speaking at the NSACC’s March Breakfast Meeting in Lagos, stakeholders in the agricultural sector underscored the need for a robust agribusiness framework to address food shortages and enhance intra-African trade.
Adefeko decried the failure of many African governments to meet the Malabo Declaration target of allocating at least 10 per cent of their budgets to agriculture, noting that Nigeria’s highest allocation has been around three per cent.
“Government has no business in business but must provide policies to support investment,” Adefeko said, highlighting the need for a policy environment that enables agribusinesses to thrive.
He further underlined the impact of Olam Agri investments in the socioeconomic well-being of farmers and farming communities, development of the agricultural value chain, economic development, etc., in each of the African markets. He Speak to the impressive and compelling narrative around Olam Agri’s investment contributions and the socioeconomic impact. Olam Agri is a major player in the global agriculture value chain, working in food, feed, and fiber.
Olam Agri’s investment in Africa is structured to drive the attainment of the continent’s agricultural and economic development agenda, agriculture is the backbone of the African economy
It is the major source of income in African countries, according to the African Development Bank (AfDB). Also, 50% of jobs in Africa are in the agricultural sector, which generates more than 70% of the income of those living in poverty.
Although productivity challenges remain, it is believed that Africa has the potential to feed the world. This is because 60% of the world’s uncultivated arable land and a growing population willing to engage in agriculture are in Africa – the reason Olam Agri is investing strongly in the continent, to help the African farming segment reach its potential.
As a business, we are sure that what the farming segment requires for fast growth is an investment in technology, infrastructure, and sustainable practices. Meanwhile, through sheer public-private efforts, including the partnership we are driving, the continent is fast transforming from subsistence agriculture to a more intensified, sustainable form of agriculture capable of feeding the world.
Olam Agri is proud to be at the heart of Africa’s agricultural value chain transformation. Our legacy on the continent stretches over 35 years.
We invest in the vast food supply value chainand partner with the government, research institutes and farming communities to drive economic growth on the continent.
We have built a strong operating presence in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Chad, Ghana, Mozambique, Nigeria, the Republic of Congo, Senegal, and South Africa. Besides deepening food security and generating employment in each market, we support the development of rural economies by investing in infrastructure, education, women empowerment, water and sanitation, and workforce nutrition.
Also, for the 5th consecutive year, Olam Agri’s operations in Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, and South Africa have been recognized as a “Top Employer” by the Top Employers Institute – a testament to our contribution to generating quality employment in Africa. We continue to seek ways to expand our value chain and economic impact footprint through quality engagement and investment.
He identified inadequate storage and inefficient value chains as key challenges stifling Nigeria’s agricultural potential. Despite leading in the production of cocoa, cashew, sesame, cotton, yams, and cassava, the country struggles to maximise economic benefits due to distribution bottlenecks.
Adefeko asserted that Olam has invested in agricultural ventures across several African nations, including Ghana, Mozambique, Côte d’Ivoire, and South Africa, with a focus on creating employment and strengthening local economies.
We’ve nearly 30 years of experience in Burkina Faso.
We operate an integrated supply chain across sourcing, processing, logistics, marketing, and distribution to ensure good value creation and risk management for our customers.
We produce a range of wheat flour through our state-of-the-art mill on the outskirts of Douala.
Also, we are the top importer and distributor of Rice in the country.
Our investment in the country has benefited allied industries and service providers and generated both direct and indirect employment for the country’s population.
This investment provides us with a platform for further community engagement and social welfare activities.
We are a major player in the cotton industry in Côte d’Ivoire.
We source directly from over 35,000 farming families and a vast network of local traders.
We source naturally coagulated cup lump rubber from 15,000+ smallholder farmers.
Our offices, processing facilities and warehousing spaces are located strategically to support our growers and to connect us quickly to our markets.
We’ve made major investments in infrastructure, enhancing employment opportunities.
We actively support the development of the sectors we participate in and the sustainability of the livelihoods of those involved.
Since our investment in Cotonu and Chad, a majority-government-owned company, we have become one of the leading exporters of cotton in the country.
We employ over 750 people and work with over 230,000 small-holder cotton farmers in the country. Ghana.
We’re one of the leading agri-food companies in Ghana.
Our operations involve wheat milling and rice sourcing & processing for local consumption.
As part of our efforts to improve workplace nutrition and promote healthy living among employees, Olam Agri Ghana is providing fortified rice to employees across all 6 locations during lunchtime.
We recently commenced the third edition of our ‘Healthy Baker initiative, a flagship baker engagement programme designed to improve the health and well-being of bakers across the country and subsequently ensure food safety within the communities they serve. Mozambique
We’ve created an extensive distribution network over the past 15 years in Mozambique.
Our experience in the country has enabled us to build our rice offering into a portfolio of award-winning consumer brands. Our workforce of nearly 400 operates across the country.
We have warehouses strategically located in the 3 country regions close to the country’s major ports, Matola, Beira, and Nacala. Nigeria
Olam Agri started in Nigeria through Olam in 1989 .We have over 35 years of experience procuring and exporting commodities in Nigeria. Our operations cover integrated feed milling, flour milling, rice production & processing, and sesame exporting.
We generate tens of thousands of indirect jobs through our network of farmers, suppliers, wholesalers, local buying agents and service providers.
A bold testament to our strong investment in Nigeria is the over 14,000-hectare rice plantation and Mill located in Rukubi, Nasarawa state, and the state-of-the-art flour and feed milling facilities located across strategic parts of the country. We keep crafting initiatives that are empowering communities.
Notably, our corporate social sustainability investment vehicle, Seeds for the Future initiative, focuses on supporting farmers and farming communities, enabling broader education & skill development for young people, empowering women (farmers & bakers), promoting health & nutrition, and reducing carbon emissions in business operations.
Around 700 women have been economically empowered through our Crown Flour Angels initiative. The business has been investing in research efforts that deliver innovations which enable growth with strong consideration for the environment.
Our wheat seed trial and research effort recently delivered an innovative wheat seed variety able to thrive in the unique Nigerian typographic conditions, providing hope of achieving wheat production self-sufficiency in the country.
The Republic of Congo has been the hub of our wood products operations for over 50 years.
We operate forest management concessions and processing in the Sangha province, covering approximately 2.1 million hectares. Harvested logs not directly exported are processed locally in our mills, drying kilns and molding& scantling factories. Senegal
We’ve nearly 10 years of experience as a key player in the wheat milling industry in Senegal. A strong and diverse workforce of over 100 permanent employees, 50 contractual and 80 employees work across our operations.
We have 10 depots spread across 9 regions of Senegal. Namely Dakar, Mbour, Thies, Touba, Kaolack, Ourrossogui, St. Louis, Kolda and Ziguinchor. We launched a green initiative called “My Plant, My Pride”. The initiative is designed to encourage employees, their family members, and external guests to plant tree seedlings on our premises.
To date, over 275 trees have been planted. South Africa
We have over 20 years of experience in importing and distributing grain in this region. We trade edible oils such as crude and refined sunflower, palm oil and sunflower seeds. Our edible oils trading desk is based in Durban.
From the pipeline at the Port of Beira in Mozambique to our refinery there, we manage oil distribution to the cross-border markets in South Africa and environs.
The event featured a panel session with industry leaders, including the Group Independent Director of Odu’a Investment Company, Folusho Olaniyan; Head of Agribusiness at Union Bank, Mr Eze Mwakama; and Chief Operating Officer of AFEX Commodity Exchange, Olufunto Olasemo.
Odu’a Investment Company is set to partner Nigeria Philanthropy Organisation and Impact Investing (NPO), domiciled in the office of the Vice President, to create business opportunities and financial support for over 500 Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) in South West and create jobs for the unemployed in the country.
Odu’a Investment has strategic partnership role to play in the South-West, especially in of agriculture, renewable energy, furniture, bead making and fashion.
We were received by the Board and management of OICL and we believe that this is just the beginning of a successful partnership.”
On the outcome of the partnership, she added that after signing an MoU with Odu’a Investment, we will host investment forums with Odu’a Investment for startup entrepreneurs because the major aim of the partnership is to create jobs in Nigeria.”
Group Independent Director, Odu’a Investment Company Limited said that the focus for the company is “to take ownership in the South West because the owners of Odu’a Investment are the government of the South West States.
The panel’s discussions focused on strengthening agricultural value chains, attracting investments, and leveraging the African Continental Free Trade Area for trade expansion.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Nigeria-South Africa Chamber of Commerce, Dr Ije Jidenma, described food security as fundamental to economic growth, stating, “How can we pursue economic growth if we cannot meet our basic food needs?”
She called for a shift away from oil dependence, stressing that investment in agriculture would ensure economic stability. She also lauded Olam’s growth from a small cashew trading firm in 1989 to a global agribusiness leader.
Jidenma reiterated the chamber’s commitment to fostering strong Nigeria-South Africa economic ties, stating, “Together, we win.” She urged African nations to prioritise collaboration in achieving food security and economic growth.
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