Lagos: International Breweries Plc (IBPLC), in collaboration with farmers and stakeholders in the agriculture sector, has advocated for stronger partnerships to enhance Nigeria’s food ecosystem and promote sustainable economic growth through local sourcing. Mr. Carlos Couti±o, Managing Director of International Breweries Plc, emphasized the importance of such partnerships during a statement made in Lagos.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Couti±o’s remarks were encapsulated in a communique titled ‘Cheers to Farmers’. He highlighted the significant contribution of the agricultural sector in providing raw materials that sustain production and stimulate rural economies. Couti±o underscored the pivotal role played by farmers and allied partners in maintaining Nigeria’s food ecosystem and driving economic progress. He stressed the necessity for reviewing strategies to bolster Nigeria’s agricultural value chain through local sourcing, focusing on enhancing food security, rural livelihoods, and industrial growth.
Recognizing the essential role farmers play in the brewing process and the broader Nigerian economy, Couti±o stated, “Our beer is only as good as the people who grow what we brew. At International Breweries, we believe in brewing a better world and that starts with our growers. We recognize your contribution, but more importantly, we are about strengthening a partnership that is building rural economies and transforming lives.”
Additionally, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, commended IBPLC’s leadership in advancing Nigeria’s backward integration policy through increased local sourcing, agro-industrial partnerships, and MSME support. Oduwole noted that local sourcing in brewing aligns strongly with the country’s national agenda of backward integration and rural industrialization. She praised the ‘Cheers to Farmers’ initiative as a powerful reminder of the crucial link between industry and agriculture.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, also applauded the company’s approach to sourcing, indicating it as evidence that private sector actors can be powerful enablers of agricultural development. Kyari emphasized that the company had demonstrated agriculture’s viability and importance for sustainable industrial development.
Oyeniyi Oyedele, Chief Executive Officer of Nikoy Nigeria Ltd., a pioneering aggregator for IBPLC, described the economic benefits farmers experienced due to the company’s local sourcing initiative. Oyedele noted that farmers have benefited economically through the increased and sustained patronage of International Breweries.
Furthermore, Malam Abubakar Kabiru, a sorghum farmer from Kaduna, shared his personal experience within the IBPLC aggregator network. According to him, before IBPLC’s involvement, many farmers struggled to find markets for their produce. “Today we farm with confidence, knowing that our efforts are valued and the support we have received has helped improve our livelihoods and given hope to our communities,” he said.
