Farmdev Consult Redefines African Agriculture at Ibadan Summit

More than 500 agricultural stakeholders, including industry leaders, agripreneurs, policymakers, farmers, and students, gathered in Ibadan, Nigeria, on Saturday, July 18, 2026. The Africa Agribusiness Summit 2020, hosted at the Zonta Multipurpose Hall, centered on redefining the continent's agricultural landscape.

Organized by Farmdev Consult, the summit's theme, “Transforming Africa’s Agricultural Landscape: Driving Profitability, Sustainability, and Food Security,” highlighted the shift from traditional subsistence farming to structured, high-yield corporate businesses. Samuel Oluwatobi, Convener and Managing Director of Farmdev Consult, stressed the essential role of agribusiness in sustainable economic growth, stating, “Food is a basic demand for humanity. Whether you like it or not, no matter how hard the economy is, people must eat.”

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Food is a basic demand for humanity. Whether you like it or not, no matter how hard the economy is, people must eat. No matter how expensive food is, people will buy it.

Alhaji Gaffar Bello, Executive Adviser to the Oyo State Governor on Planning, Budgeting, and Economic Matters, urged participants to embrace professional branding and value addition. He used the example of refined, standardized, and attractively packaged garri in supermarkets to illustrate the potential for elevating agriculture. Bello asserted that such intentionality and business structure could significantly address youth unemployment.

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When you walk into top supermarkets, you never see garri measured out in local congo tins; you see it refined, standardized, and attractively packaged. If we elevate agriculture to this level of intentionality and business structure, the national outcry over youth unemployment will dry up completely.

Mrs. Kehinde Omojuyigbe, founder of The Fufu Factory, emphasized the need for strategic capital injection, noting that investing in agribusiness supports farmers, creates jobs, and strengthens food security. Practical insights were shared by Babatunde Olaniran of Tundelaniran Farms and Alfred Ukane of Melora Farms, who demonstrated how high-value export processing and farm automation enhance profitability. Interactive sessions allowed attendees to engage speakers on accessing capital, connecting with off-takers, and land acquisition.

Farmdev Consult also highlighted its commitment to human capital development during the event.

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When we invest in well-managed agribusiness, we are not simply financing one company; we are supporting farmers, creating jobs, and strengthening food security. Agriculture deserves smarter funding.