Nigeria could substantially increase the economic value of its agricultural sector by processing more commodities locally instead of exporting raw produce and allowing much of the eventual commercial value to be created elsewhere, according to the International Finance Corporation.
The IFC is strengthening its collaboration with Johnvents Group as part of efforts to connect agricultural production more closely with processing, manufacturing, sustainable supply chains and international markets.
The strategy focuses on ensuring that a greater proportion of the wealth generated from African agricultural commodities remains within producing countries.
IFC Division Director for Nigeria and Central Africa, Olivier Buyoya, said Johnvents demonstrated how private investment could connect farmers to markets while expanding domestic processing and improving sustainability standards.
Johnvents began primarily as a cocoa business but has developed into a diversified agricultural and food manufacturing group with interests in cocoa, soybean, cashew and consumer products.
The company says it operates 10 factories in Nigeria, maintains operations across 19 countries and works with more than 40,000 farmers.
Its Founder and Group Managing Director, John Alamu, said the company’s business model integrates agricultural sourcing, processing, manufacturing and international distribution.
The objective is to ensure that Nigerian agricultural products capture greater value before reaching global markets.
Johnvents is also working with the IFC on corporate governance, environmental and social standards, institutional development, farmer training and product traceability.
Its 2025 Sustainability Report stated that 40,000 farmers participated in structured capacity development programmes, while 122,916 hectares were verified as free from deforestation.
The report also covers responsible sourcing, climate governance, traceability and measures aimed at preventing child labour within agricultural supply chains.
For Nigeria, the wider economic question is how to transform its large agricultural output into a stronger manufacturing base.
Exporting raw agricultural commodities generally captures only part of their potential value. Processing those commodities domestically can create factory jobs, strengthen local supply chains, increase tax receipts, expand exports and stimulate demand for logistics, packaging, technology and other services.
The IFC and Johnvents collaboration is therefore seeking to strengthen the link between the farm and the factory while improving the ability of Nigerian products to compete internationally.
The underlying argument is that Nigeria’s agricultural strength should be measured not simply by how much it produces but by how much value it retains from what it produces.
