Being the Speech By His Excellency, Seyi Makinde, FNSE, Executive Governor of Oyo State, at the 2025 World Union of Wholesale Markets (WUWM) Conference Themed, “The African Edition – Shaping the Future of Fresh Produce Markets through Sustainability, Innovation, and Inclusivity” holding in South Africa on Thursday, 15 May 2025
It is a privilege to be here with you today at this important gathering of global stakeholders in the agriculture and fresh produce ecosystem. Let me begin by expressing my deep appreciation to the organisers of the World Union of Wholesale Markets for this invitation and for spotlighting Africa’s role in shaping the future of the global fresh produce market.
The theme of this year’s conference, “Shaping the Future of Fresh Produce Markets through Sustainability, Innovation and Inclusivity” could not be more timely or apt. It reflects a collective recognition that the future of agriculture cannot be divorced from the sustainability of our environment, the pace of innovation, or the inclusivity of those most affected by food systems, that is, our farmers, traders, and consumers.
In Oyo State, Nigeria, these values are not merely aspirational; they form the very core of our agricultural agenda. Over the past six years, we have prioritised agriculture as a key driver of economic development, food security, and youth employment. As a state blessed with vast arable land and a vibrant entrepreneurial population, we recognised early that the transformation of our economy would be incomplete without a deliberate and strategic investment in agriculture.
But we have also recognised that in today’s world, agriculture does not operate in a vacuum. The value chains that sustain it are interconnected across continents, and the threats it faces, particularly those from climate change, are global in nature but local in impact.
In fact, climate change has not spared Oyo State. We have witnessed extended dry seasons that delayed planting, unexpected floods that destroyed farmlands, and erratic weather patterns that have made traditional farming calendars unreliable. These developments have disrupted yields, discouraged new entrants, and heightened the cost of production for those who choose to remain in farming. We have also had activities of herders, driven by the effect of climate change in their own region, seeking grassland who end up in western Nigeria and Oyo State. Leading to what we often refer to as, “Farmer/Herder Clashes”.
A few weeks ago, an online survey we conducted revealed that interest in farming among our youth and young professionals is growing. However, two critical barriers persist:
- Access to capital and quality inputs, and
- Education on modern, climate-smart agricultural practices.
These challenges underscore the urgency for bold, structural interventions. It is for this reason that Oyo State has embraced partnerships and innovation as pillars of our agricultural reform.
One of the key partnerships we have embarked upon is with the World Bank, through the Ibadan Urban Flood Management Project (IUFMP). Through this initiative, we are addressing the threat of flooding to our agricultural zones by strengthening urban drainage, restoring flood plains, and implementing early warning systems. This intervention has already protected livelihoods, and saved infrastructure, fostering investor confidence.
In addition to flood management, we are aggressively exploring irrigation as the next frontier. We recognise that rain-fed agriculture can no longer be the foundation of our food systems in the face of climate variability. Our vision is to develop irrigation clusters to enable year-round cultivation. We welcome partnerships with donor agencies, private investors, and international governments to make this vision a reality.
Perhaps the most symbolic of our recent initiatives, and the one that most directly aligns with the mission of the WUWM, is our partnership with the French Government to build a Rungis-style wholesale farmers’ market in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State.
This market will be a world-class aggregation and distribution centre for fresh produce, integrating cold chain infrastructure, logistics, food safety systems, and real-time market data. It will not only reduce post-harvest losses, which currently account for up to 40% of produce waste in Nigeria, but also link our farmers more efficiently with national and regional markets.
More importantly, it will formalise and dignify the experience of trading fresh produce in Oyo State, and Nigeria. We envisage a future where a tomato farmer in Iseyin can confidently sell to a supermarket in Lagos or even export, knowing that the infrastructure is in place to preserve the quality, traceability, and profitability of their produce.
We see this project as a catalyst — one that will draw in investors, empower SMEs, create jobs, and integrate Oyo State more deeply into the global agriculture value chain.
Sustainability and innovation also demand investment in people. Through our state’s Youth Entrepreneurship in Agribusiness Project (YEAP), we have trained and supported over 4,000 youths in modern farming techniques, agritech, and value addition.
We have partnered with universities, development organisations, and national and sub national governments to promote agribusiness in Oyo State. I must mention at this time a world-class facility which we set up in Fasola, Oyo State, which has recently been renamed the Agricultural Transformation Centre, first of its kind in Nigeria, for its role in changing the agricultural landscape in Nigeria.
We are laying the groundwork for an ecosystem that is attractive to both smallholder farmers and agribusiness investors alike.
As we look to the future, one thing is clear: Africa cannot remain at the bottom rung of the global agriculture value chain. We must move beyond exporting raw commodities and importing processed goods. This imbalance is not sustainable — economically, socially, or environmentally.
Inclusivity means giving African farmers fair prices. It means technology transfer, not just aid. It means co-investing in processing plants, logistics corridors, and digital platforms that allow us to compete, not just participate, in the global food economy.
And as climate change continues to expose the fragility of our systems, we must work together to ensure that the global response to food insecurity includes Africa not just as a beneficiary, but as a solution hub.
Let me close by reaffirming Oyo State’s commitment to the values championed by the WUWM. We stand ready to collaborate on solutions that are sustainable, innovative, and inclusive.
We believe in markets that work for farmers, not just middlemen. In systems that are resilient, not reactive. And in partnerships that are built on mutual respect and shared prosperity.
To all present here, governments, development organisations, private sector leaders, and market operators, I say: Let us co-create the future of agriculture together.
Let us make the African edition of this conference not just a conversation, but a commitment to elevate African agriculture, modernise our produce markets, and build climate-resilient food systems that leave no one behind.
Thank you and God bless you.
Seyi Makinde
15 May 2025