The Federal Government of Nigeria, in partnership with the African Development Bank Group and the Oyo State Government, will officially launch the Oyo State Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) on Saturday, 2 August 2025.
This event marks a major step in the country’s agro-industrial growth and will take place at the SAPZ Phase 1 site in Atan, Ijaiye, Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State, about 29km from Ibadan.
This groundbreaking is the third under Phase I of the SAPZ programme, following earlier launches in Kaduna and Cross River States in April 2025. It also signals the programme’s move into south-western Nigeria. The 300-hectare project site is located near the Lagos-Ibadan Railway Line, ensuring strong transport links and easy access to major markets.
Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank, will join senior officials from the federal and Oyo State governments for the event.
The ceremony will also highlight the ongoing cooperation with major development partners including the Islamic Development Bank, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, and the Africa Grow Together Fund.
Speaking ahead of the event, a representative from the African Development Bank noted, “This is not just an investment in infrastructure but a direct investment in the people of Nigeria. The Oyo SAPZ will be a key part of building resilient food systems and generating jobs across several agricultural sectors.”
The SAPZ initiative is the Bank’s largest agricultural programme across Africa and forms a core element of its Feed Africa High 5 strategy. The programme has attracted total funding of $538 million, co-financed by the Islamic Development Bank, IFAD, and the Africa Grow Together Fund.
The Oyo State SAPZ will support the growth of important agricultural value chains including cassava, maize, poultry, and horticulture. It is expected to boost food production, reduce post-harvest losses, create new job opportunities, and increase rural incomes.
Officials have also confirmed that this launch strengthens Nigeria’s role in agro-based industrialization on the continent. “Nigeria is showing strong leadership,” said an official from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture. “This is how we create jobs, lift communities out of poverty, and transform rural areas.”
The event will also highlight how the African Development Bank, which has been Nigeria’s development partner since 1971 with close to $11 billion in commitments, is backing agricultural transformation through public-private partnerships.
