Nigeria’s Agro-Based Economy Holds Massive Investment Potential – Former Botswana President at Agbeyewa Farms

Former President of Botswana, His Excellency Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi, has declared that the future of Africa lies in deliberate and sustained investment in agriculture, noting that the continent is naturally endowed to leverage the sector for prosperity, food security, and inclusive economic development.

President Masisi made this disclosure after touring Agbeyewa Farms in Ekiti State, where he inspected operations across the farm’s locations and interacted with management and workforce. He called on governments and policymakers in Nigeria, at all levels, to create a truly enabling environment for agriculture and the entire agricultural value chain to thrive.

Commending the Chairman of Agbeyewa Farms, Mr. Niyi John Olajide, and his team, President Masisi described their investment as timely and visionary. He noted that what he observed at Agbeyewa Farms—particularly in the areas of technology adoption, structured operations, and human capital—clearly indicates a bright future for the enterprise. He further described Mr. Olajide as a passionate African committed to job creation and economic prosperity across the continent.

According to President Masisi:

“Government is to provide an enabling environment. Enabling the environment is policy-driven. It is about legal infrastructure, regulatory frameworks, and incentivization. As a government, you incentivize through tax breaks and subsidies, because there is nowhere in the world where agriculture is not subsidized. It is not a crime to subsidize agriculture; by doing so, governments provide sustainable jobs, sustainable livelihoods, and improved nutrition. When these are in place, investors and government agencies can diversify agricultural output.”

Speaking further, the former President encouraged Nigeria and private investors to explore the wildlife economy, noting that Nigeria is losing billions of naira by not fully unlocking this sector, which remains a major source of revenue for Botswana.

“There is a whole wildlife economy,” he said. “I have asked Nigerians I have met: where is your wildlife economy? In Botswana, we make hundreds of millions from wildlife—elephants, zebra, antelopes, crocodiles, and more.”

Also speaking during the visit, Chairman of Cavista Holdings—the parent company of Agbeyewa Farms—Mr. Niyi John Olajide reiterated the company’s commitment to maximizing the entire cassava value chain while creating jobs and economic opportunities for Nigerians.

“We are moving decisively into processing,” Olajide said. “As we perfect cultivation and aggregation, we are also perfecting everything around agricultural trading. Our goal is to maximize value addition through processing—producing ethanol, cassava starch, and high-quality cassava flour—so that the benefits of agriculture extend across communities and industries.”

Over the past three years, Agbeyewa Farms has made a profound impact in Ekiti State and beyond. Within this period, the farm has employed over one thousand youths directly and indirectly across its growing ecosystem, providing meaningful work, skills development, and sustainable livelihoods. Beyond employment, Agbeyewa Farms is intentionally positioning agriculture as a viable and attractive investment capable of empowering young people, women, and rural communities, while stimulating inclusive economic growth.

Through large-scale cassava cultivation, structured aggregation, community engagement, and a clear roadmap for processing and value addition, Agbeyewa Farms is not only transforming agricultural practice but also transforming lives—building stronger communities, restoring dignity to farming, and creating pathways to shared prosperity.

According to the farm’s Managing Director and CEO, Oska Seyi Ayeleso, he said: “the visit of former President Masisi therefore represents more than a courtesy call; it is a significant validation of Agbeyewa Farms’ vision and Africa’s agricultural future. His visit provided a unique opportunity for cross-country learning and reinforced the urgent need to deploy agribusiness as a strategic tool for economic development and mass job creation across Africa.”

President Masisi’s message echoed a clear truth: agriculture remains one of Africa’s most powerful engines for growth. This is precisely the path Mr. John Olajide and his team are pursuing through their bold and sustained investment in Agbeyewa Farms—demonstrating, in practical terms, how agribusiness can unlock opportunity, create massive employment for African youth, and drive long-term, inclusive development across the continent.