As Ondo State celebrates its Golden Jubilee, agribusiness firm Johnvents Group has pledged to intensify investment in agro-processing and local manufacturing, with a focus on converting agricultural produce grown in the state into finished products that meet international standards.
The company said expanding value addition within the state would not only reduce the export of raw commodities but also unlock jobs, boost incomes, and deepen industrialisation.
Ondo remains one of Nigeria’s leading cocoa-producing states, with thousands of smallholder farmers depending on the crop for their livelihoods.
Speaking during activities marking the state’s 50th anniversary, Founder and Group Managing Director of Johnvents Group, Mr John Alamu, said the firm’s strategy is built around processing agricultural commodities close to their source to retain economic value locally.
According to him, the company operates 10 processing factories across Ondo, creating an integrated value chain that spans sourcing from farmers, aggregation, local processing, and the production of finished goods for both domestic consumption and export.
He explained that linking agriculture with manufacturing has strengthened rural economies and positioned the company among the largest private-sector employers in the state.
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“Our goal is simple- to stop exporting value and start exporting finished products. By processing cocoa and other crops here at home, we create jobs, build skills, and develop products that can compete in international markets,” Mr Alamu said.
Beyond physical infrastructure, he stressed the importance of human capital development, noting that sustainable industrial growth depends on farmers, technicians, engineers, and young professionals working within a coordinated ecosystem.
“With the right policies, infrastructure, and support for local industries, Ondo can deepen value addition and strengthen its competitiveness in regional and global trade,” he added.
Alamu disclosed that Johnvents’ operations extend beyond cocoa to cashew, sesame, legumes, almonds, pistachios, rice, edible oil, animal feed, fast-moving consumer goods, and logistics, reflecting a broader push to diversify the state’s agro-industrial base.
The firm, which operates across several African countries and international markets, has also positioned Ondo as a strategic hub within its global supply chain.
He congratulated the government and people of the state on the Golden Jubilee and commended Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s administration for sustaining policies aimed at economic and industrial growth.
“Ondo at 50 presents an opportunity to reflect on how far the state has come and to build a stronger industrial future anchored on value addition,” he said.