WHAT: Groundbreaking ceremony for the Oyo State Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ)
WHO: The African Development Bank Group, the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Oyo State Government, and partners including the Islamic Development Bank, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, and the Africa Grow Together Fund.
WHEN: Saturday, 2 August 2025
WHERE: SAPZ Phase 1 Site, Atan, Ijaiye, Akinyele Local Government Area, Oyo State, Nigeria (approximately 29km from Ibadan, the state capital)
The Federal Government of Nigeria, in collaboration with the African Development Bank Group and the Oyo State Government, will officially break ground on the Oyo State Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ), a pivotal milestone in Nigeria's agro-industrial revolution.
The event will be led by senior government officials and African Development Bank President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina.
This event represents the launch of the third SAPZ under Phase I of the programme, following successful groundbreakings in Kaduna and Cross River States in April 2025--and an extension of the program to south-western Nigeria.
The processing zone is strategically located on a 300-hectare site in Ijaiye, positioned near the Lagos-Ibadan Railway Line for optimal market access and transport connectivity.
The SAPZ initiative represents the Bank's largest agriculture program across Africa and serves as a flagship under the Feed Africa High 5 strategy, with a total investment of $538 million co-financed by the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the Africa Grow Together Fund.
The Oyo SAPZ will unlock critical value chains in cassava, maize, poultry, and horticulture, creating employment opportunities and increasing incomes across the rural economy. This launch demonstrates Nigeria's commitment to strengthening food systems and to continental leadership in agro-based industrialization.
The event will showcase how the African Development Bank, Nigeria's key development partner since 1971 with nearly $11 billion in commitments, is supporting the country's agricultural transformation through innovative public-private partnerships. It will also build momentum for future SAPZ expansions across the continent.
Media contact: Nkembuh Natalie, Communication and External Relations Department, African Development Bank. Email: [email protected]
