Cassava took centre stage on Thursday at the 2025 World Cassava Day event held at the State House Banquet Hall, Abuja, where stakeholders from across government and industry gathered to discuss strategies for expanding Nigeria’s cassava industry and linking it to global markets.

Themed “Farm to Global Markets: Driving Industrialisation, Food Security & Exports,” the event was supported by Cavista Holdings and its agribusiness subsidiary, Agbeyewa Farms, as headline sponsors.

Vice President Kashim Shettima, who delivered the keynote address, described cassava as a crop with both symbolic and strategic significance for Nigeria.

“Cassava, which for long symbolised food security for the vulnerable, can also signify prosperity for the ambitious,” said Shettima. “This administration is repositioning cassava as a driver of industrial development, rural livelihoods, and import substitution. We are moving from subsidy-heavy programmes to investment-led solutions anchored on private capital, research, and coordinated national action.”

In a goodwill message, Chairman of Cavista Holdings, Niyi John Olajide, emphasized the crop’s relevance to Nigeria’s development goals.

“We see cassava not just as a crop — but as a strategic asset in Nigeria’s journey toward economic diversification, rural empowerment, and global competitiveness,” Olajide said.
He was represented at the event by Cavista’s Executive Director and Vice President of Government and External Affairs, Olumide Olayomi, who reiterated the company’s support for the Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda. Olayomi said Cavista is committed to supporting agriculture, job creation, and national prosperity through long-term investments.

Also speaking at the event, Cavista’s Director of Strategy, Kabir Shagaya, said the company views cassava as a platform for advancing inclusive growth and innovation.
“Our investments reflect our belief that business must be a force for good, with agriculture at the heart of shared prosperity,” said Shagaya.

Managing Director of Agbeyewa Farms, Seyi Ayeleso, provided an update on the farm’s progress in Ekiti State, where it currently cultivates 5,000 hectares of cassava and employs over 1,000 people. Ayeleso said the farm yields up to 32 tons per hectare with a starch content of 27.7 per cent, exceeding national and industry benchmarks.
“Our goal goes beyond cultivation — we are building an integrated value chain to process cassava into starch, ethanol, flour, and more,” Ayeleso said.

He added that the company’s work is supported by a public-private partnership with the Ekiti State Government and ongoing collaboration with local communities.
World Cassava Day is an annual event focused on advancing the cassava sector as part of Nigeria’s broader food security and industrial policy goals.