GB Foods, a leading global food manufacturing company, in a bid to support Nigeria’s food security drive, has announced a $10 million investment to improve the food system and create impact in Africa.
Nelson Amo, Executive Director, GBHub Africa, stated this at the unveiling of the GBHub Africa in Abuja.
“GB Foods is a commercial company in the food systems value chain. We do food processing and sell it to the market. Now GB Foods is asking, how can we intentionally make an impact in the communities we operate in?”
“So GB Foods Africa is launching this new vehicle called GB Hub Africa. It’s purely focused on impact, and GB Foods is set to dedicate about $10 million into this new vehicle to invest systematically in the food system value chain to create impact,” he said
Nelson also said that GB Hub Africa focuses on strengthening Africa’s food system, improving nutrition, ensuring food security, and generating employment opportunities for youth and women.
“So the focus of GB Hub Africa is to enhance Africa’s food system value chain, enhance nutrition, address food security, and create jobs for young people and women in the process. That’s the core difference between GB Foods and GB Hub, the $10 million is just a seed fund,” he explained.
Also speaking at the event, Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security,, who was represented by Ibrahim Alkali, Special Assistant to the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, highlighted the paradox confronting Nigeria’s agricultural landscape: despite being Africa’s largest producer of tomatoes,he said the country remains the world’s biggest importer of tomato paste.
He revealed that while Nigeria produces approximately 3.997 million tonnes of tomatoes annually, nearly 45% around 1.8 million tonnes goes to waste due to supply chain inefficiencies.
“The failure to connect our vibrant farmers to processing companies exacerbates this challenge, resulting in post-harvest losses and limiting farmers’ livelihoods,” Kyari said.
He commended GBFoods Africa’s efforts, including the establishment of a large tomato processing factory in Kebbi State with an annual processing capacity of 25,000 tonnes. The factory, he noted, not only reduces waste but also creates jobs and supports local economies.
Kyari also applauded the GBHub Africa initiative for the $10 million seed fund dedicated to supporting Small and Growing Businesses (SGBs) in the agricultural value chain. The minister emphasised that the platform will drive innovation, link farmers directly with processors, and facilitate access to finance, markets, and training on modern agronomic practices.
“In light of these challenges, GBFoods Africa’s initiatives showcase vital steps in reversing this trend. The launch of GBHub Africa, backed by a $10 million seed fund, represents a commitment to investing in Small and Growing Businesses (SGBs) that aim to enhance the agricultural value chain.
“Through initiatives like GBHub Africa, we are systematically mapping tomato-growing clusters and promoting sustainable practices that will not only boost productivity but also ensure environmental stewardship,” the Minister noted.
Kyari also stressed the importance of collaborative efforts among government bodies, private sector players, and civil society in revamping Nigeria’s food systems.
“The launch of GBHub Africa is a beacon of hope, It signifies a commitment to addressing critical challenges in our food security landscape and transforming Nigeria into a self-sufficient agricultural powerhouse”, he added.
