The Yobe State Government has intensified efforts to attract private-sector investment into sesame processing as part of its broader strategy to increase agricultural value addition, strengthen exports and create employment opportunities.
The initiative followed a meeting in Damaturu between the Yobe State Agency for Public Private Partnership and Investment Promotion, Valency Agro Nigeria Limited, Greenfort Consulting and Chalcdony Consulting at the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, Tourism and Solid Minerals.
Speaking during the engagement, the Director-General of the state investment agency, Dr. Aliyu Isa Chikaji, said Yobe was seeking credible investors to leverage existing sesame processing facilities and transform the commodity into a stronger contributor to economic growth.
Chikaji noted that Yobe is among Nigeria’s major sesame-producing states and has invested in processing infrastructure as part of efforts to promote industrial development and expand the agricultural value chain.
He said the proposed partnership would focus on expanding processing capacity, improving access to international markets and strengthening different segments of the sesame value chain.
According to him, areas of potential collaboration include organic sesame production, improved product traceability, farmer training, export promotion and investment in processing activities.
He added that increased private-sector participation would enhance the competitiveness of the sesame industry, improve farmers incomes and support the state’s economic diversification efforts.
The Commissioner for Commerce, Industry, Tourism and Solid Minerals, Alhaji Kaigama Umar, reaffirmed the commitment of the administration of Governor Mai Mala Buni to creating an enabling environment for investment and unlocking the agricultural potential of the state.
As part of the engagement, the delegation inspected the Damaturu Sesame Seed Processing Plant to assess its operational readiness and explore opportunities for collaboration aimed at expanding processing capacity and increasing export activities.
Stakeholders believe that increased investment in sesame processing could enable Yobe to capture greater value from its agricultural production while creating jobs and strengthening its position in Nigeria’s export market.
Nigeria remains a major producer and exporter of sesame seed, with the commodity ranking among the country’s leading non-oil export products.
Expanding processing capacity in major producing states such as Yobe could therefore increase export earnings, reduce post-harvest losses, improve farmers and incomes and generate additional employment opportunities across the agricultural value chain.
