Inside Benin’s Industrial Hub: Lessons That Could Transform Nigeria’s Agriculture and Economy
A renewed drive to transform Nigeria’s agricultural sector through industrialization received fresh momentum over the weekend as Kwara State Governor and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, joined Vice President Kashim Shettima on an official study tour of the Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ) in Cotonou, Republic of Benin.
The high-level delegation, comprising senior government officials from the Federal Government and participating states, visited the world-class industrial hub to understudy its integrated agro-processing systems and draw practical lessons that could accelerate the successful implementation of Nigeria’s Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) Project.
During the visit, the delegation inspected the GDIZ’s extensive value chains, particularly in cotton, cashew, and soybean processing, where raw agricultural produce is transformed into finished and export-ready products. The inspection showcased how strategic investments in infrastructure, processing facilities, logistics, and supportive government policies can significantly increase agricultural productivity while stimulating industrial growth.
Speaking after the tour, Governor AbdulRazaq described the Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone as a practical demonstration of what visionary leadership and consistent government policies can achieve in building a competitive industrial economy.
According to him, the Benin Republic has successfully developed a model that discourages the export of unprocessed agricultural commodities while encouraging value addition through local processing industries. The approach, he noted, not only boosts farmers’ incomes but also creates thousands of jobs across agriculture, manufacturing, transportation, logistics, and other supporting sectors.
The governor emphasized that Nigeria stands to gain enormously from adopting similar strategies, especially as the country continues to diversify its economy away from excessive dependence on crude oil revenues.
The Cotonou visit follows an earlier peer-learning mission to Ethiopia, where Nigerian officials studied another successful industrial development model. Governor AbdulRazaq explained that these continental study tours form part of a deliberate strategy to learn from proven African success stories rather than relying solely on models from outside the continent.
According to him, Africa possesses several examples of industrial transformation that demonstrate what is possible when governments create enabling environments for investment, infrastructure development, and private sector participation.
He stressed that the knowledge acquired from Ethiopia and the Republic of Benin would provide valuable guidance as Nigeria rolls out Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones across participating states.
The SAPZ initiative is one of Nigeria’s flagship agricultural industrialization programmes designed to establish modern agro-processing clusters where agricultural production, processing, storage, packaging, and marketing are integrated within designated economic zones.
Rather than exporting raw produce, the initiative seeks to promote value addition within Nigeria, thereby increasing export earnings, improving food security, strengthening local industries, and generating sustainable employment opportunities.
Governor AbdulRazaq disclosed that Kwara State is among the pilot states selected for the implementation of the ambitious project.
He explained that the state is working closely with the Federal Government and several international development institutions to provide the infrastructure necessary for the successful establishment of the agro-industrial processing zone.
Among the key development partners supporting the programme are the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). These institutions are providing financial and technical assistance aimed at accelerating rural transformation, agricultural commercialization, and industrial development.
The governor noted that collaborative efforts between federal and state governments, supported by development partners, would help create modern industrial ecosystems capable of attracting both local and foreign investors.
He added that the infrastructure being developed under the SAPZ project—including roads, electricity, water supply, storage facilities, processing plants, and logistics networks—would significantly reduce production costs while improving the competitiveness of Nigerian agricultural products in regional and international markets.
Beyond industrial expansion, Governor AbdulRazaq emphasized that the project is fundamentally about improving livelihoods.
He said the agro-industrial processing zones would create employment opportunities for thousands of young Nigerians, empower smallholder farmers through improved market access, stimulate rural economies, and encourage private investment across the agricultural value chain.
Industry experts have consistently argued that one of Nigeria’s biggest economic challenges is the continued export of raw agricultural commodities with minimal value addition. Products such as cotton, cocoa, cashew, sesame, and soybean often leave the country unprocessed, allowing foreign industries to reap the greater economic benefits associated with manufacturing.
The SAPZ model seeks to reverse this trend by ensuring that processing, packaging, branding, and manufacturing occur closer to production centres, thereby retaining more economic value within the country.
Governor AbdulRazaq expressed optimism that lessons from Benin’s GDIZ and Ethiopia’s industrial development experience would strengthen Nigeria’s implementation strategy and improve the long-term sustainability of the project.
He reaffirmed Kwara State’s commitment to ensuring that the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone delivers tangible economic benefits for farmers, entrepreneurs, investors, and communities across the state.
The governor also commended the leadership of Vice President Kashim Shettima for championing practical learning initiatives that expose Nigerian policymakers to successful industrial models across Africa.
Observers believe that if effectively implemented, the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone programme could become one of Nigeria’s most significant economic transformation initiatives by modernizing agriculture, expanding manufacturing capacity, reducing unemployment, increasing non-oil exports, and positioning the country as a major agro-industrial hub on the African continent.
As Nigeria advances its industrialization agenda, the insights gained from countries like Benin and Ethiopia may prove instrumental in shaping a more competitive, diversified, and resilient economy capable of delivering inclusive growth for millions of citizens.
Source: Office of the Governor of Kwara State (Statement by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, CON, Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum).
