The government of Oyo State has taken a step to boost agro-industrialisation and extend its reach in regional and continental trade with the launch of export-ready, value-added food products.
The initiative, which features processed yam, cassava, and plantain flour packaged for both international and local markets, reflects the state’s commitment to strengthening its position in Nigeria’s non-oil export economy.
Packaged for both domestic consumption and international markets, the new products include processed derivatives of yam, cassava, and plantain.
These were presented during a ceremony organised by the Agricultural Exporting Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative Society, which took place at the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Investment and Cooperatives, located in the Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.
The event also featured the inauguration of a new board of directors for the Association of Nigeria Cooperative Exporters (ANCE) Limited, further signaling the government’s commitment to overhauling the cooperative system and aligning it with current trade realities.
The restructuring forms part of ongoing cooperative reforms being executed by the state to attract investment and enhance product competitiveness in international markets.
Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Trade, Industry, Investment and Cooperatives, Adeniyi Adebisi—represented by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mamud Okesade—disclosed that plans are underway to establish a Directorate of Quality Control within the Ministry.
The move, according to him, is aimed at ensuring that all products intended for export meet international standards and specifications.
Adebisi stressed the importance of restructuring the cooperative ecosystem to reflect contemporary economic demands and appeal to investors seeking compliant and well-organised partners in the global market.
He encouraged the newly constituted ANCE board to operate with openness and solidarity in order to effectively harness export opportunities and drive cooperative growth.
Kola Olomoyoyo, who now leads the ANCE as president, vowed to consolidate the progress made under the previous leadership.
Under the former administration, the cooperative stabilised its core export operations in cocoa and palm kernel and successfully expanded into new ventures such as livestock feed and bottled water production.
In a show of solidarity and institutional backing, representatives from several federal and state agencies, including the Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and the Bank of Agriculture, were present to applaud the initiative.
They commended the association for establishing a solid structure and maintaining regulatory compliance, pledging continued support in the form of funding, technical assistance, and trade facilitation.
One of the highlights of the event was the unveiling of a comprehensive plan designed to modernise cooperative operations, widen agricultural value chains, and attract both local and international investment into the state’s agribusiness sector.
