AyoOluwa Okediji, an agribusiness strategist and digital agriculture expert, has highlighted the critical role that cooperative-driven investments will play in the long-term sustainability of Nigeria’s poultry sector. Speaking at the Oyo Mega Poultry Workshop 2025 in Ibadan, Okediji emphasized that the Nigerian poultry industry is at a pivotal moment and urgently requires structural reforms to secure its future.
During his keynote address on the theme “Strengthening Poultry Farming Through Cooperative Synergy and Strategic Investments,” Okediji urged stakeholders—including poultry farmers, cooperative leaders, financial institutions, and policymakers—to reconsider the current operational structure of the industry. He stressed that transitioning from individual-driven operations to well-structured, cooperative-led entities is essential for attracting sustainable financing and ensuring long-term success.
Our poultry sector cannot thrive on individual effort alone, Okediji noted. We need to organise ourselves into cooperative clusters, build strong governance systems, and position ourselves to attract the level of investment needed to sustain this industry beyond this generation.”
Despite its significant contribution to Nigeria’s agricultural GDP, the poultry industry faces numerous challenges, including rising feed costs, volatile market prices, limited access to affordable financing, and weak business continuity frameworks. Okediji proposed cooperative synergy as the solution, where smallholder poultry farmers can pool resources, share risks, and benefit from economies of scale.
Drawing inspiration from successful global cooperative models like Rabobank in the Netherlands and Landus Cooperative in the U.S., Okediji introduced the FarmClusters Poultry Model, a locally adapted approach currently being piloted in Oyo State in collaboration with PANOY Agribusiness Limited and local poultry cooperatives.
Key strategies outlined for the future of Nigeria’s poultry sector include:
Forming Cooperative Investment Clusters for bulk procurement, joint marketing, and easier access to finance.
Establishing Poultry Aggregation Centres to stabilize market prices and streamline distribution.
Adopting alternative feed solutions, such as cassava peel mash and insect-based proteins, to reduce production costs by up to 30%.
Integrating digital technologies for improved traceability, stakeholder profiling, and real-time advisory services.
Embedding succession planning to ensure business continuity beyond the founders’ lifetimes.
Okediji emphasized the necessity of strategic investments and partnership-driven models to transform poultry businesses into sustainable, future-proof enterprises.
A special Response Session during the workshop saw industry experts affirming the proposed model’s relevance and stressing the urgent need for cooperative-driven reforms to address the challenges plaguing the poultry sector. Okediji closed his speech with a call to action for all stakeholders: “The time to act is now. The sustainability of our industry depends on how quickly we can organise, invest, and build a poultry ecosystem anchored on collective strength and strategic partnerships.
Source- Tribune Online
Expert Review for Agri-Food Stakeholders
AyoOluwa Okediji’s recent address at the Oyo Mega Poultry Workshop 2025 sheds light on the challenges and opportunities for Nigeria’s poultry industry. His expert insights outline critical strategies to ensure long-term sustainability and address current industry challenges. Below are the key points:
Cooperative-Driven Reforms:
Okediji emphasizes the need for the poultry sector to transition from individual-driven operations to cooperative-led enterprises. This shift would help poultry farmers pool resources, share risks, and attract sustainable investments, ensuring long-term industry viability.
FarmClusters Poultry Model:
The FarmClusters Poultry Model is a locally adapted solution aimed at creating cooperative investment clusters. This model, currently being piloted in Oyo State, seeks to improve bulk procurement, joint marketing, and access to finance for smallholder farmers, fostering economies of scale.
Poultry Aggregation Centres:
The establishment of Poultry Aggregation Centres is a key strategy for stabilizing market prices and improving distribution. These centres would enhance market access and address price volatility, which is a significant issue for poultry farmers.
Alternative Feed Solutions:
Okediji advocates for the adoption of alternative feed solutions like cassava peel mash and insect-based proteins, which can reduce production costs by up to 30%. This approach helps lower dependency on expensive traditional feeds, improving the sector’s profitability.
Digital Technologies Integration:
Integrating digital technologies for traceability, stakeholder profiling, and real-time advisory services is crucial. This would enhance efficiency, transparency, and accountability within the poultry value chain, allowing farmers to make informed decisions and improve productivity.
Succession Planning:
Okediji highlights the importance of succession planning to ensure continuity within poultry businesses beyond the founders’ lifetimes. Succession planning, coupled with strategic investments, will safeguard long-term sustainability and growth.
Strategic Investments and Partnerships:
He stresses the need for strategic investments and partnership-driven models to transform the poultry industry into a future-proof sector. These partnerships will be essential for addressing current challenges and ensuring the long-term health of the industry.
Okediji’s vision offers a clear roadmap for transforming Nigeria’s poultry sector through cooperative-driven models, innovative feed solutions, and digital technology integration. His call to action for stakeholders is urgent: embracing these strategies now will ensure the poultry industry’s sustainability and long-term growth. The success of the industry depends on how quickly stakeholders act to build a resilient, cooperative-driven ecosystem.”
