Representative of FMN Agro, Panelists and Federal Government Representatives at the World Cassava Day 2025
In a renewed push to industrialize Nigeria’s cassava value chain and reposition it as a globally competitive export commodity, FMN Agro, a subsidiary of Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, has partnered with the Federal Government during the 2025 World Cassava Day celebration in Abuja.
The event, held at the Banquet Hall of the State House, attracted key players in agribusiness, policymakers, youth entrepreneurs, and investors, reaffirming Nigeria’s status as the world’s largest producer of cassava. Organized under the theme “Farm to Global Markets: Driving Industrialization, Food Security and Exports,” the event spotlighted the strategic importance of cassava in enhancing food security, import substitution, and economic diversification.
FMN Agro Lends Industry Voice to National Dialogue
FMN Agro, through its Premium Cassava Products Division (PCPD), played an active role in the high-level discussions. The company, which is part of the FMN Group — owners of the iconic Golden Penny brand — used the platform to emphasize its commitment to value addition, local sourcing, and industrial-scale processing.
Speaking during a panel session titled “Strengthening Linkages from Farms to Global Markets,” Mr. Akhanemeh Joseph Osikhena, General Manager of PCPD, highlighted the urgent need to transform cassava from a subsistence crop to an industrial input.
“Now more than ever, it has become imperative to develop cassava as a viable raw material for a range of finished products,” Osikhena stated. “Through our work at PCPD and Golden Agri Inputs Ltd (GAIL), we’re focused on transforming Nigeria’s cassava narrative into one centered on innovation, employment, and export revenue.”
He added that FMN Agro’s long-term strategy involves investing in local capacity, reducing reliance on imports, and supporting smallholder farmers through training, improved inputs, and guaranteed markets.
Strategic Partnerships Key to Sector Growth
Mr. Sadiq Usman, Managing Director of FMN Agro and Group Director, Partnerships and Strategic Engagements, echoed the company’s commitment to building sustainable agricultural value chains. He emphasized the need for deeper collaboration between the public and private sectors.
“Partnerships like these are critical to unlocking the full potential of Nigeria’s agricultural assets,” Usman said. “Events like World Cassava Day provide the opportunity to discuss scale, investment-readiness, and export competitiveness — and more importantly, to act on them.”
Usman commended the Federal Government, particularly the Office of the Senior Assistant to the President on Agribusiness and Productivity Enhancement, for organizing the event and sustaining the national conversation around agribusiness transformation.
Cassava Changemakers Competition Showcases Youth Innovation
A major highlight of the celebration was the Cassava Changemakers Pitch Competition, which offered young innovators across the country an opportunity to present forward-thinking solutions within the cassava value chain. From processing technologies to market expansion ideas, the competition underscored the potential of Nigeria’s youth in driving agricultural transformation.
FMN Agro’s Longstanding Commitment to Local Development
As a core business vertical under the FMN Group, FMN Agro continues to invest across five major agricultural value chains: grains, wheat, edible oils and fats, animal feeds and proteins, and cassava starch.
The company’s outgrower programs have directly supported smallholder farmers through agronomic training, seed development, financing, and access to structured markets. These efforts have not only improved rural livelihoods but also strengthened the country’s food systems.
Through subsidiaries such as Golden Agri Inputs Ltd, Golden Fertilizer Ltd, Premium Cassava Products Division (PCPD), and Premier Feed Mills, FMN Agro is working to bridge the gap between farm-level production and industrial processing, with a focus on value addition and export potential.
Looking Ahead
As the 2025 World Cassava Day drew to a close, stakeholders were unanimous in their resolve to move from dialogue to implementation. With the backing of private sector partners like FMN Agro and government agencies driving strategic initiatives, Nigeria’s cassava industry is poised for a new era of industrial growth and global competitiveness.
For FMN Agro, the mission remains clear: to feed and enrich lives every day by deepening local content, building resilient food systems, and ensuring that cassava — once a humble staple — becomes a cornerstone of national economic development.
@2025 The Ameh News: All Rights Reserved
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