Ekiti, Nigeria, September 4, 2025
Agbeyewa Farms, a leading agribusiness and subsidiary of Cavista Holdings, yesterday hosted renowned Brazilian cassava experts Mr. Pascoal D’Andrea Filho and Mr. Liviston Teles Sena on a technical visit to its large-scale cassava estates across Ipao, Gede, and Iyemero communities in Ekiti State, Nigeria.
The high-level visit comes shortly after Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s state visit to Brazil, where both countries deepened bilateral cooperation in agriculture, energy, and technology transfer. The engagement reflects the growing importance of public–private collaboration in building sustainable food systems and advancing agricultural industrialization.
Cassava is a versatile, gluten-free staple crop feeding hundreds of millions in Africa, Asia, and South America, while its starch and flour derivatives are used in food and industrial products across the world. As demand rises globally, Nigeria (already the world’s largest producer) holds enormous potential to transform cassava into a driver of food security, job creation, and export diversification.
In just two years, Agbeyewa Farms has cultivated over 5,000 hectares of cassava, integrating mechanized farming technology with grassroot community participation. This initiative is bolstering Nigeria’s food systems, creating jobs, empowering rural communities, and fueling agro-industrialization.
During their tour, the Brazilian delegation, both veterans in large-scale cassava farming, processing, and mechanization, commended Agbeyewa’s vision and scale.
“This is impressive. We came to Nigeria to meet Agbeyewa Farms, and it’s an incredible project. We have never seen so many cassavas planted in one extension area as we saw today – fields upon fields of cassava. It’s fantastic, and we must thank John for the vision and the courage to do something of this magnitude,” said Mr. Pascoal, commending Agbeyewa’s Chairman, Mr. Niyi John Olajide.
“The future of cassava in Nigeria lies in replicating the revolution Agbeyewa is pioneering,” he added, urging increased support through partnerships, financing, and policy backing.
Speaking on the visit, Mr. Niyi John Olajide, Chairman of Agbeyewa Farms and Cavista Holdings said: “Nigeria can be a global leader in cassava production and processing. Partnerships like this accelerate our ability to bring in world-class expertise, technology, and practices that empower our farmers, strengthen our communities, and contribute to economic growth. This is only the beginning of what we can achieve together.”
On his part, Agbeyewa’s Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Oska Seyi Aiyeleso, described the visit as a vital platform for knowledge exchange:
“It is my pleasure to host our friends from Brazil, who are global leaders in cassava farming. We have much to learn from their experience, and this engagement strengthens our vision to scale cassava production and deliver transformative impact across the value chain.”
Mr. Aiyeleso also revealed that Agbeyewa’s leadership will soon undertake a reciprocal visit to Brazil to strengthen networks and draw lessons from the country’s thriving cassava industry.
This collaboration directly aligns with Nigeria’s ambition to expand global agricultural partnerships and signals a bold new chapter in private-sector-led transformation of food and economic systems.
