Matna Foods Company Limited has partnered with the Ondo State Government to train 3,000 young farmers in cassava farming under the Women in Sourcing and Enterprise (WISE) Programme, an initiative aimed at creating jobs while empowering youths and women across the state.
The partnership is designed to strengthen the cassava value chain while providing young people with the skills, inputs and market access needed to build sustainable agricultural livelihoods.
The collaboration involves several key government ministries, including the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Women Affairs, and the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development. The programme focuses on supporting young farmers and encouraging greater participation of women in agriculture.
According to a statement released by the company in Ado-Ekiti on Sunday, the initiative will train and support about 3,000 youth outgrower farmers across Ondo State, with about 80 per cent of the beneficiaries expected to be young women between the ages of 18 and 35.
Through the programme, participating farmers will receive improved inputs, technical training and structured market opportunities. The farmers will also have access to processing facilities operated by Matna Foods, which will serve as a guaranteed off-take market for their cassava produce.
The programme is being implemented in partnership with the Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta Foundation (PIND), which will support farmer training, project coordination and capacity development throughout the duration of the initiative.
Officials from the participating ministries highlighted the importance of the initiative during a stakeholder engagement session held at the Matna Foods processing facility, where discussions focused on expanding agricultural participation and strengthening rural economic opportunities.
Speaking during the engagement, the Managing Director of Matna Foods Company Limited and Agbeyewa Farms, Oska Seyi Aiyeleso, said the WISE Programme was designed to build a sustainable agricultural ecosystem that benefits both farmers and agro-processing industries.
“This initiative is about building a sustainable ecosystem that empowers farmers while ensuring reliable feedstock for agro-processing. By connecting young farmers directly to structured markets, we are not only creating jobs but also laying the foundation for inclusive agricultural growth that benefits communities across Ondo State,” Aiyeleso said.
He explained that the programme would not only provide training but also create direct market links for farmers, ensuring that participants can earn stable income from cassava production.
Aiyeleso also highlighted the broader vision behind the investment, noting that the initiative aligns with the development focus of the Chairman of Cavista Holdings, Niyi John Olajide.
According to him, the investment reflects a strong commitment to job creation and economic empowerment through agriculture.
“The Chairman is passionate about creating opportunities for Nigerians. John Olajide has a clear focus — create jobs, create more jobs, and further create more jobs for Nigerians as a pathway to economic empowerment and national development,” he said.
The Ondo State Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Hon. Olaleye Akinola, described the partnership as a strong example of how collaboration between government and private investors can strengthen agricultural production in the state.
He emphasised that agriculture remains a key pillar of Ondo State’s economic development and that initiatives like the WISE Programme will help support farmers while expanding cassava production.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs, Seun Osamaye, also commended the initiative for prioritising women and vulnerable groups within the agricultural sector.
She said the programme aligns with the ministry’s goal of promoting women’s economic empowerment and ensuring greater inclusion of women in productive sectors of the economy.
The Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Segun Omoyofunmmi, noted that agriculture continues to provide strong opportunities for youth employment and entrepreneurship.
“Our priority as a ministry is to ensure that young people are provided with opportunities that take them off the streets and position them for self-reliance. Agriculture offers tremendous potential for employment, and initiatives like this help equip young people with the skills and opportunities needed to become productive members of the economy,” he said.
Providing further details about the programme, Project Coordinator Ayo Obe explained that the WISE initiative will run for 39 months and will support participants through two cassava cultivation cycles.
According to him, beneficiaries will begin with 0.4 hectares of farmland and will have opportunities to expand their production capacity as they gain more experience and build their farming operations.
Obe said the programme will combine farmer training, extension support and structured market access through Matna Foods’ processing operations, creating a pathway for young farmers to participate sustainably in the cassava value chain while contributing to economic growth in Ondo State.
