In a move to boost agricultural activities in Nigeria, TGI Group, a leading agribusiness and industrial conglomerate under the Nigeria-Brazil Strategic Dialogue Mechanism (SDM), paid a courtesy visit to Kebbi State recently.
The strategic partnerships aim to deepen agricultural production for crops like rice, soybeans, and corn which the northern state is known for.
A statement made available to BusinessDay revealed that the visit was held under the Nigeria-Brazil Strategic Dialogue Mechanism (SDM) and included a tour of the WACOT Rice facility, owned by TGI Group.
The delegation, led by Cleber Oliveira Soares, Brazil’s deputy vice minister of Agriculture, assessed opportunities for collaboration in food production and agro-processing.
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Soares said Brazil is particularly interested in working with Nigeria on improving yields in key crops and livestock.
“We are particularly interested in collaborating on crops like corn, soybeans, and livestock development. What TGI has achieved here in rice production is exactly the kind of success story we want to replicate across more agricultural value chains.”
The group sources more than 70 percent of its paddy from farmers in Kebbi, while supplementing the rest from surrounding states. Since it began operations in 2017, the rice mill has become a significant player in Nigeria’s local rice production efforts.
According to the company, consistent policy backing from the Kebbi State government has supported its growth.
Farouk Gumel, vice chairman of TGI Group, highlighted the impact of Kebbi’s business-friendly policies.
“What we have here in Kebbi is a perfect example of how public-private partnerships should work. Since we started operations in 2017, the Kebbi State government has provided consistent policy support that has enabled us to grow from a small operation to a major contributor to Nigeria’s rice sufficiency,” he noted.
Kebbi is one of Nigeria’s largest rice-producing states and played a central role in the implementation of the now-suspended Anchor Borrowers’ Programme. During the delegation’s visit, state officials emphasised that Kebbi remains open to foreign agricultural investment and technology transfer.
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Governor Nasir Idris, who received the Brazilian officials in the state capital, said the state is seeking collaborations that can expand its agricultural base beyond rice.
“We are eager to leverage Brazil’s expertise in livestock and crop production to create jobs and improve rural livelihoods,” he noted.
Also in attendance was Tope Fasua, special adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Economic Matters, who linked the rising interest in Nigeria’s agribusiness sector to broader federal reforms.
According to him, the kind of expansion seen in companies like WACOT is one of the signs that policy interventions aimed at supporting domestic production are beginning to take hold.
As Nigeria continues to search for growth through its agricultural sector, partnerships like this could play a role in unlocking export markets, building value chains, and reducing the country’s dependence on food imports.
