Gombe: Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State have inaugurated an ultra-modern seed processing factory established by Premier Seeds Nigeria Ltd. The facility, situated in the Gombe Industrial Park, was developed with support from the UK Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) through its climate and agriculture programme, Propcom+.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Governor Yahaya emphasized the plant’s significance to Gombe’s agrarian economy, highlighting that over 80 percent of the state’s population relies on farming for their livelihood. He stated that the factory would provide farmers with access to high-quality, climate-smart seeds, thereby enhancing productivity and food security across the North-East and Nigeria.
Obasanjo, who is the founder of Premier Seeds, underscored the importance of quality seeds in agricultural output. He praised the state government for fostering an enabling environment through the industrial park, noting that the initiative would encourage investment and help address unemployment.
Director-General of the National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC), Mr. Fatuhu Buhari, remarked that the plant would unlock the North-East’s potential as an agro-industrial hub. He added that it aligns with Pillar 3 of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, focusing on food security and job creation.
Propcom+ Country Representative, Dr. Adiya Ode, indicated that the UK Government-funded programme’s investment in the seed processing facility would bridge the gap in the availability and affordability of certified seeds across the North-East. Ode elaborated that the plant was designed to strengthen the supply chain for improved, certified, climate-resilient seed varieties. She highlighted that the facility would enable smallholder farmers to access high-yielding, drought- and flood-tolerant, disease-resistant, and bio-fortified seeds at significantly reduced costs. The intervention is also expected to address logistical challenges that impede farmers’ access to quality seeds in the region.
Premier Seeds’ Managing Director, Dr. Ibitoye Oyewale, described the facility as a milestone that increases the company’s processing capacity from 20 metric tonnes per hour to 35 metric tonnes, thereby enhancing farmers’ productivity and profitability.
