By John Moses
Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo and Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State on Tuesday jointly inaugurated a state-of-the-art seed processing facility developed by Premier Seeds Nigeria Ltd in the Gombe Industrial Park.
The high-tech facility, which aims to revolutionise seed production in northern Nigeria, was established with support from the UK Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) under its Propcom+ climate and agriculture programme.
Governor Yahaya highlighted the factory’s significance to the region’s agriculture-based economy, noting that over 80% of Gombe’s population rely on farming for their livelihoods.
“This facility will give our farmers much-needed access to certified, climate-resilient seeds,” Yahaya said. “It’s a major step towards ensuring food security and improving agricultural productivity in the North-East and beyond.”
Obasanjo, the founder of Premier Seeds, underscored the vital importance of quality seed systems in achieving sustainable agricultural transformation. He praised the Gombe State government for fostering a favourable business environment and emphasised the role of industrial initiatives in reducing unemployment.
The Director-General of the National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC), Mr Fatuhu Buhari, said the plant would enhance the region’s position as an agro-industrial hub, aligning with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly its focus on food security and job creation.
Dr Adiya Ode, Country Representative for Propcom+, noted that the facility aims to close longstanding gaps in the availability and affordability of certified seeds across the North-East.
“This investment supports the entire seed value chain by improving access to drought-resistant, flood-tolerant and bio-fortified seed varieties for smallholder farmers,” she said.
Managing Director of Premier Seeds, Dr Ibitoye Oyewale, described the project as a significant achievement, increasing the company’s processing capacity from 20 to 35 metric tonnes per hour and significantly boosting farmer output and profitability.
