By Kanu Samuel
The Ondo State Government has stepped up efforts to attract international investments into its agricultural and environmental sectors following Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa’s high-level engagements with the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and private sector leaders in Rome, Italy.
The engagements, held between 29 and 30 October 2026, focused on expanding investment opportunities in cocoa processing, strengthening agribusiness value chains and securing technical and financial support for climate resilience and coastal protection projects.
A statement issued on Tuesday by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan, said the mission also included a strategic visit to Amsterdam, the Netherlands, where the governor met environmental experts and inspected technologies for addressing coastal erosion, sea incursion and land reclamation.
At the FAO headquarters in Rome, Aiyedatiwa participated in a global high-level exchange titled “Investable Beans: De-risking and Financing Forest-Positive Supply Chains”, where he presented Ondo State’s agricultural potential and outlined his administration’s plans to position the state as a competitive destination for agribusiness, processing and value addition.
Speaking during a high-level reflections session attended by delegates from 19 countries, the governor stressed the need to increase agricultural productivity while protecting forests and improving farmers’ livelihoods.
He also highlighted the state’s investments in rural security, feeder roads and land access for investors, citing the operations of Johnvents Industries Limited as evidence of Ondo’s readiness for agro-industrial expansion.
A major highlight of the visit was Aiyedatiwa’s meeting with representatives of Ferrero Group, led by its Group Head of Cocoa Value Chains, Nicola Somenzi, to explore investment opportunities in local cocoa processing.
The proposed partnership is expected to cover the processing of cocoa into liquor, butter and powder, technology transfer, long-term offtake arrangements and employment generation.
According to the statement, Ferrero indicated its willingness to undertake internal consultations and re-engage with the state by the end of November 2026. A scoping visit to Ondo is also being considered for early 2027.
The governor also secured a commitment from the FAO Investment Centre to provide technical assistance for developing bankable investment proposals and organising an Ondo State Agrifood Investment Summit.
The proposed summit will be preceded by a joint FAO-Ondo State scoping mission to identify priority agricultural value chains, assess infrastructure requirements and facilitate targeted engagements between investors and local opportunities.
In another development, the state expressed interest in enrolling Akure, the state capital, in the FAO Green Cities Network, an initiative aimed at promoting sustainable urban development, urban agriculture, green enterprises and circular economy solutions.
The government is expected to designate a lead institution to begin the application process.
Aiyedatiwa also drew attention to the worsening environmental challenges confronting Aiyetoro and other coastal communities in Ilaje Local Government Area, particularly the effects of sea incursion and coastal erosion.
Discussions during the Rome mission explored opportunities for technical assistance and climate financing to develop a comprehensive coastal resilience programme for the affected communities.
As part of efforts to advance the initiative, the governor travelled to Amsterdam, where he met with environmental experts and inspected equipment and technologies relating to coastal protection, erosion control, sea incursion and land reclamation.
He also held discussions with representatives of companies interested in partnering with the state government to develop sustainable coastal protection and land reclamation solutions for communities in Ilaje and other riverine areas.
The statement added that the governor’s meeting with the FAO Deputy Director-General and Director of Cabinet, Godfrey Magwenzi, reaffirmed the existing relationship between the organisation and Ondo State, as well as their shared commitment to expanding cooperation.
To consolidate the outcomes of the mission, Aiyedatiwa is expected to approve the establishment of a joint FAO-Ondo State technical coordination mechanism, authorise formal engagements with prospective investors and initiate the processes for Akure’s Green Cities Network application.
The proposed coastal resilience package, including land reclamation interventions, is also expected to receive further attention.
Members of the Ondo State delegation to Rome included Dr Nifesimi Ogunkua, Climate Change Specialist and FAO Nigeria Team Lead for Climate Change, Environment and Biodiversity; Dr Paul Oluikpe, Acting Director of the Development Finance Department, Central Bank of Nigeria; Omolakin Anthony, Administrative Secretary of the Ondo State Cocoa Revolution and Management Agency; and Olusanya Abayomi, Chief of Protocol to the Governor.
Aiyedatiwa reiterated his administration’s commitment to attracting credible investments, creating employment opportunities, retaining more value from the state’s agricultural produce and building a climate-resilient economy.
The engagements form part of the government’s OUR EASE Development Agenda, which seeks to move Ondo beyond primary agricultural production towards processing, industrialisation and greater participation in international agribusiness value chains.
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