Olam Agri, a leading global agribusiness firm, has opened a $50 million state-of-the-art soybean crushing plant and feed milling facility in Ilorin, Kwara State, marking a significant boost to the nation’s agricultural processing capabilities.
This integrated facility, the largest of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa, boasts an annual processing capacity of 250,000 to 350,000 metric tonnes of soybeans, addressing Nigeria’s rising demand for high-quality animal feed and edible oils.
The plant, recently opened, will primarily source soybeans from local farmers, strengthening the domestic supply chain and reducing reliance on imports.
It directly supports Olam Agri’s subsidiary, Ruyat Oil, while supplying raw materials to the adjacent feed mill, which produces poultry and aquaculture feeds.
Olam Agri’s feed milling unit and its edible oil subsidiary, Ruyat Oil, specialise in processing and refining various vegetable oils for the Nigerian market.
This expansion builds on Olam’s existing operations in Kwara and Kaduna States, where it already runs major poultry feed mills and Africa’s first aqua feed plant in the region.
Alongside the plant’s commissioning, Olam Agri unveiled a new consumer product, Mama’s Pride Soya Oil, a refined, cholesterol-free cooking oil aimed at Nigerian households.
Speaking at the event, the company’s Africa Head of Edible Oil Processing, Mr Saurabh Kumar, described the product as a developed innovation tailored for Nigerian kitchens and homes, expressing confidence that it will redefine market standards.
“Mama’s Pride Soya Oil is proudly produced in Nigeria for Nigerians. It is thoughtfully developed as a product consumers can trust for their everyday cooking,” he said.
The company’s Head of Marketing, Mr Bola Adeniji, emphasised the importance of promoting authentic and healthy edible oil options in Nigeria, noting that Mama’s Pride Soya Oil offers quality, safety, and nutrition, and called on trade partners to help eliminate adulterated products from the market.
The new edible oil product is available nationwide in multiple packaging formats, including PET bottles, pouches, and bulk containers, enabling broad market penetration across different income segments.
Olam Agri, which specialises in food, feed and fibre, is committed to a fully integrated approach working closely with farmers through structured support systems, improving yields, and producing and processing locally.
This captures the agribusiness’s focus on fostering positive economic impact through improved value chain productivity, a nutritional landscape, human capital development, and job creation in Nigeria.
On his part, Mr Anil Nair, Country Head and Managing Director of Olam Agri Nigeria, affirmed that the business will continue to invest in developing key value chains, food safety, and supporting Nigeria’s economic growth in line with the government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.