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By Gloria Ikibah

An agro specialist has said Nigeria’s vast natural wealth should place it among the world’s most prosperous nations, rather than struggling economically.

Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, Segun Alabi, Managing Director of Davidollar Farms Limited, outlined the company’s ambition to reposition agriculture as a driver of real economic value, moving beyond basic farming into full-scale industrial production.

He argued that Africa must rethink its economic model and break away from what he described as a cycle of exporting raw materials while importing finished goods at higher costs.

“And how the V-dollar is leading the change. Because the only thing that is constant in life is change. Today I stand before you not just as a business leader, but as a voice for continent that has given so much to the world, yet received so little in return. Africa is rich, Nigeria is so rich, yet our people are struggling. And the question is so simple.

“And what is the question? How can a continent so blessed remain economically constrained for decades? We have exported our wealth in its raw form. We grow the crops, we harvest the fruits, we ship them out. And then we import them back, processed, packed, and priced higher.

“We export raw material, we import finished products, we export jobs, we import unemployment. This is not just an economic issue. It is a structural problem affecting our future.

“Every pineapple exported raw is a missed opportunity, missed job, missed revenue, missed industrial growth. We are not poor because we lack resources. We are poor because we are not capturing the value”.

Alabi illustrated his point using pineapple production, noting the sharp difference in value between raw and processed products.

“And if I have to come back to Nigeria, let’s say between three thousand to four thousand Naira. But when this same pineapple process into juice concentrate, dried fruit, pharmaceutical-grade brumelain, or pineapple briquette, which is renewable energy. That same pineapple that is being sold for three dollars or five dollars in a global language, or three thousand to five thousand in Naira language.

“This same pineapple would go for five times or ten times when the value is being added. Now, imagine at this, when it is being scaled. This is not farming.

“This is industrial wealth creation. The solution, this is why we founded Davidolla Nigeria Limited, not as a farm, not as a land business, but as a fully integrated agro-industrial platform. Our mission is so clear”, he added.

The Agro boss maintained that the future of Nigeria’s agricultural sector lies in value addition, processing and industrialisation, rather than the continued export of raw produce.
He said that the Farms has built large-scale pineapple production, developed processing capacity and exports high-value products to global markets.

According to him, Africa builds industrial strength.

“We are creating a system where farmers can earn more. Investors can gain returns. Nigeria earns foreign exchange.

“We are moving from agriculture as a survivor, because that is the holding deal. What are we moving into? We are moving into agriculture as an industry.

,”Why does this matter to Nigeria, and not just Nigeria, but to Africa at large? If we get this straight, we create thousands of jobs. We increase good GDP significantly. We reduce import dependency.

“We attract foreign investment. We reduce migration pressure on the youth, which is called Jaipur syndrome. This is not just a business.
“To our government leaders, we need policies that support agro-processing infrastructure, export facilitation, and access to finance”, Alabi said.
He therefore called for support companies like Davidolla and other indigenous agri-companies in Nigeria.

He also called on local and global investors to invest in agriculture.

“You are not just supporting them alone. You are not just supporting business, but you are supporting economic transformation and a movement.
“To Nigerians in the UK, in Canada, in Asia, in America, in Europe, to all the Africans in the diaspora, the future of agriculture is not in raw production. It is a value chain processing and export. Davidolla offers an opportunity to be part of a scaling agro-industrial platform, high growth export business, a solution to Africa’s economic challenge. This is not just investment. This is a participation in movement. Nigeria is the giant of Africa.

“Investing in Nigeria or in Africa is investing in an economy that has a future, and the future is now.

“The time has come to stop exporting our future, to stop exporting our job, and to stop exporting our wealth. The time has come to process, to produce, and to prosper. Davidolla is not just a company.
“It is a symbol of what is possible. Artificial means execution, and this is AI. And when I’m talking about AI, I’m not talking about artificial intelligence, but I’m talking about agricultural intelligence.
“Africa is not poor. Africa has simply been exporting its wealth in a raw form. The future belongs to those who process it.
“It is high time to join forces together, and build Nigeria, and build Africa of our dreams. Long live Africa. Long live Nigeria”, he added.