The Kwara State Government has inaugurated the Kwara State Association of Nigerians in the UK (KWASANG) Apex CO-OP Cassava Value-Addition Factory at Osin Pakate, Ilorin East Local Government Area, to promote cassava value addition and agro-processing in the state.
Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Afes Abolore Alabi, described the initiative as a cooperative-led program that is in line with the agricultural development priorities of the state.
He expressed satisfaction that this project demonstrates how farmer organizations supported by the right policies and partnerships can drive sustainable agribusiness development.
Alabi explained that value addition to cassava plays an important role in reducing post-harvest losses, improving product quality and increasing farmers’ income, while also creating employment opportunities for youth and women.
He said initiatives like the Kwasang factory contribute to food security, supply of industrial raw materials and rural economic development.
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Alabi acknowledged Kwasang's leadership partnership with diaspora partners and described their collective investment as a strong signal of confidence in cassava production and processing opportunities within the state.
The Commissioner further said that cooperative organizations remain a key pillar in the government's vision for inclusive agricultural development.
Alabi said the role of the Kwara State Government is to provide an enabling environment through supportive policies, infrastructure development, capacity building and strategic collaboration with cooperatives and the private sector.
He said the progress being recorded in the cassava value chain reflects the development direction of Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, whose administration continues to prioritize agricultural transformation through strategic partnerships and investor-friendly policies.
According to the commissioner, the factory is expected to process cassava into products such as gari, high quality cassava flour, starch and other value-added derivatives for domestic consumption and industrial use.
Ashaolu Omotola, Press Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, quoted Alabi as saying: “The initiative also complements the ongoing efforts to strengthen the cassava value chain through improved access to inputs, extension support and market linkages with the aim of increasing productivity and profitability for farmers across the state”.
Earlier, Chairman of Kwasang Farmers, Mustapha Tunde Salavu, commended the Kwara State Government for creating a supportive environment that made the project possible.
He encouraged Nigerians in the diaspora, especially Kwaraans, to look back home and invest as a way of contributing to the development of their communities, Kwara State and the country at large.
Salavu said Kwara State’s vast arable land and its strategic position as a gateway between the northern and southern parts of the country make it a highly attractive destination for agricultural and agribusiness investments.
“The Kwasang Apex CO-OP Cassava Value-Adding Factory is expected to reduce post-harvest losses, improve market access for cassava farmers and stimulate economic activities within Osin Pakate and surrounding communities,” he said.
