As Nigeria pushes to reposition its agricultural sector for global relevance, the conversation is shifting from production alone to standards, intelligence, and strategic market access.
In this exclusive interview with AgroNigeria, Ade Adefeko, Director of Corporate and Regulatory Affairs at Olam Agri, unpacks the significance of AgroNigeria’s digital partnership with Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries, the power of market intelligence, and how integrating global standards into local platforms can unlock export opportunities. He also explores the ripple effects of regional trade positioning under African Continental Free Trade Area.
This conversation reveals a practical blueprint for turning Nigerian agriculture into a precision-driven, market-ready ecosystem — one that empowers farmers, reduces volatility, and positions the country as a quality leader both in Europe and across Africa.
1. What does this CBI Digital Partnership mean for Nigerian agribusiness exporters who want to enter the European market?
This partnership represents a digital bridge to the Euro. For the Nigerian agribusiness exporter, the CBI (Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries) partnership simplifies the “language of trade.” It means that a smallholder or a commercial processor in Nigeria can now align their production with European Union (EU) rigorous standards from the point of seed-planting rather than at the point of export. It reduces the risk of shipment rejections and provides a clear roadmap for obtaining necessary certifications like GlobalG.A.P. or Organic labels, ensuring our “Made in Nigeria” products are seen as premium, not risky.
2. How important is access to reliable market information like EU standards, compliance rules, and buyer expectations for Nigerian businesses that want to compete globally?
Information is the ultimate commodity. In the global arena, a Nigerian business is not just competing with a neighbor; they are competing with tech-driven farms in Brazil and Vietnam. Access to reliable data on EU standards, MRLs (Maximum Residue Levels), and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) expectations is the difference between a successful contract and a devastating financial loss. You cannot hit a target you cannot see; this intelligence provides the visibility needed to compete on quality, not just price.
3. Do you believe integrating CBI’s market intelligence into a platform like AgroNigeria can help reduce the information gap and improve export readiness for Nigerian agribusinesses?
Absolutely. Integrating CBI’s high-level market intelligence into a localized platform like AgroNigeria democratizes success. It bridges the “information asymmetry” that often leaves smaller players in the dark. By making this data accessible on a platform that Nigerians already trust and use, we are moving from “theoretical export readiness” to “operational export execution.” It turns a localized news hub into a global trade tool.
4. Beyond Europe, how can initiatives like this strengthen Nigeria’s trade positioning within the African Continental Free Trade Area framework?
While Europe offers high-value FX returns, the AfCFTA is our backyard. The standards required to enter the European market are often the “Gold Standard” globally. By mastering these, Nigerian businesses automatically become the most competitive players within Africa. If we can satisfy a buyer in Rotterdam, we can easily dominate a market in Cape town or Cairo. This initiative builds the “quality muscle” Nigeria needs to lead the intra-African trade volume, which currently sits far below its potential. We are talking about a 3.5 trillion market’s.1.5 billion people and 55 countries who have ratified and domesticated the treaty.
