By Balogun Kamilu Lekan
Nigeria is the 7th most populated country in the world. Today’s most profitable agricultural business model is to fill people’s needs because Nigeria is not self-sufficient in food.
Agriculture was the backbone of Nigeria’s economy before the discovery of crude oil. Then, the country’s economy thrived; food was available and affordable. People, therefore, did not go hungry, especially in extreme situations precipitated by a severe factor.
Some wealthy Nigerians drifted into agro-business to save the country. Additionally, some of them simply decided to follow their interests rather than aiming to become the wealthiest farmers in Nigeria.
Below is a list of top commercial farms and individual owners in Nigeria
Rotimi Williams – Kereksuk Rice Farm
Rotimi Williams is an industrial rice farmer and former journalist. He is the owner of Nigeria’s second-largest commercial rice field by land size, Kereksuk Rice Farm in Nassarawa State.
The farm employs more than 600 Nasarawa natives of its host state, Nasarawa.
Kereksuk is currently producing about 8,000 metric tons of quality paddy rice for major milling companies all over Nigeria every year, with a current effort to expand the project and double output in progress.
Olusegun Obasanjo – Obasanjo Farm
In addition to being a former head of state, politician, and retired army officer, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo is also a prosperous farmer. He is the owner of Ota Farm, popularly known as Obasanjo Farms. The farm was initially founded as Temperance Enterprises Limited (Farming Venture) before changing its name to Obasanjo Farms Nigeria Limited.
The farm, over the years, has undergone a series of development, expansion, sustainability, and consolidation throughout the farm’s evolution.
As of present, Obasanjo farms make up to N34 million daily. Apart from its leading site at Ota, it has other branches at Ibadan and Igbo-Ora, Oyo State.
Unarguably, Obasanjo farms play a significant role in developing agriculture and food production in Nigeria.
Engineer Kolawole Adeniji – Niji Farms
Engineer Kolawole Adeniji is the founder, President and CEO of NIJI GROUP. Adeniji started Niji Group in 1991 as a local startup known as Niji-Lukas before it expanded to a conglomerate with six subsidiaries whose operations span different fields, including Agricultural Machineries and Equipment Manufacturing, Farming, Food Processing, Agribusiness Education, Farm Mechanization and Hospitality.
The farm began operation on a 500-acre land and, over the years, has grown to become one of the significant integrated farms with expertise in cassava in Nigeria.
Kolawole, a fabrication engineer, is responsible for fabricating some of the machinery used on his farms.
Prince Arinze Onebunne – Jovana Farms Ltd.
Prince Arinze Onebunne is the successful managing consultant and CEO of Jovana Farms, based in Mushin, Lagos. He specializes in the farming of animals like grass cutters (rabbits, quail, antelope, guinea pigs, and fish, among others)
With his vast experience and engagement in training and mentoring prospective animal farmers, he earns millions of naira from sales of animal products and consultancy charges. Onebunne also carries out feasibility research, site survey and farm construction projects as part of his professional services.
Abdullahi Adamu – Nagari Integrated Dairy Farm
Alhaji Abdullahi Adamu, a former governor of Nasarawa State who is currently a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is also a prominent individual worthy of this list. He is the brain behind the Nagari integrated farm.
Nagari integrated farm is one of Africa’s biggest dairy farms with a single integrated herd. With a number of about 7,000 Holstein cattle on 1,200 hectares of farmland, one won’t be wrong to say it is one of Africa’s top providers of premium farm and dairy products, given the calibre of the goods it produces.
Abdulsalami Abubabakar – Maizube Farms
Another worthy mention is the distinguished military general and former head of state of Nigeria in the Fourth Republic, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd).
He is the owner of Maizube Farms Limited, which helps to meet the food needs of many Nigerians today; he has a stake in the country’s agricultural industry.
General Abubakar’s hometown of Minna, Niger State, is home to Maizube Farms Limited, situated at Km 26 on Minna-Bida Road. Today, the 500-hectare multi-product farm is pleased to be one of the reliable sources of crop and animal goods on which Nigerians rely for food and other uses. The farm has areas for crops and livestock.
