The Federal Government has repositioned cassava production to serve as a key driver of industrial development and import substitution in Nigeria, with a strategic plan to leverage the crop for economic transformation, stronger rural livelihoods, and enhanced national food and energy security.
Speaking on Thursday at a ceremony in Abuja to mark the 2025 World Cassava Day, Vice-President Kashim Shettima declared that cassava, which has long symbolised food security for the vulnerable, can now represent prosperity for the ambitious.
He revealed that the Tinubu administration is moving from subsidy-heavy programmes to investment-led solutions, prioritising private capital, research, and coordinated action among government, academia, and development partners to drive mechanisation, agro-processing, quality inputs, and the full commercialisation of cassava.
Commenting on the theme of this year’s event, “Farm to Global Markets: Driving Industrialisation, Food Security and Exports,” the vice-president described the commemoration as a call to action, inviting all stakeholders to recognise the promise of the crop. “Let this day mark the beginning of a new era where cassava is not merely grown, but transformed. Where our fields are not only bountiful, but profitable. Where Nigeria leads not just in tonnes harvested, but in value created,” he said.
Shettima highlighted cassava as one of Nigeria’s most strategic agricultural assets, noting its diverse applications across food, feed, fuel, pharmaceuticals, textiles, and construction. He outlined the Federal Government’s Cassava Bioethanol Project as a major breakthrough expected to save over ₦3 trillion annually by reducing dependence on imported fuel additives.
He added that the initiative would stimulate a circular economy by converting cassava by-products into energy, fertilisers, and industrial inputs. “What used to be waste will become wealth. This is how nations rise,” Shettima stated.
The vice-president called for collective action beyond plans and press releases, emphasising that only tangible results will transform lives and rebuild rural economies.
He praised the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and other partners for their contributions, particularly the deployment of the Semi-Autotrophic Hydroponic system for cassava seed multiplication. Shettima also highlighted Nigeria’s fruitful collaboration with Brazil as proof that agricultural ambition matched with political will can transform challenging landscapes.
Recognising the role of young Nigerians, Shettima described them as “not the future of agriculture, but the present,” stressing the need to empower them to innovate, scale, and lead cassava value chain transformation, just as they have excelled in fintech and agritech.
Earlier, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Abdullahi, urged stakeholders in Nigeria, Africa, and beyond to continue collaborating to transform cassava from a staple crop into a gateway for industrial and economic advancement across the continent.
He affirmed the Tinubu administration’s commitment to leveraging opportunities nationwide to accelerate the cassava value chain through coordinated interventions.
Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, highlighted cassava’s potential to drive industrial transformation, revealing that the ministry is actively supporting research and development through strategic partnerships. He reaffirmed the commitment to work with stakeholders to position Nigeria as a global leader in cassava production and utilisation.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Agribusiness and Productivity Enhancement, Dr. Kingsley Uzoma, said celebrating the 2025 World Cassava Day underscores the Federal Government’s vision of coordinated action in driving agricultural and economic transformation.
He noted that the event aims to put cassava at the forefront of socio-economic progress by empowering smallholder farmers, expanding infrastructure, and improving access to finance.
In a goodwill message, the Regional Chief Operating Officer of AFREXIM Bank, Mr. Alain-Thierry Mbongue, described cassava as a transformative asset capable of galvanising industrial growth, creating jobs, and boosting foreign exchange earnings.
He reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s agricultural revolution through impactful initiatives, including improved fertiliser production.
