Agriculture
A State-of-the-Art Facility
Spanning 5,000 hectares (with ambitions toward an integrated 10,000-hectare project), Zilex Agro Hub features a cutting edge plantation and advanced processing plant. Located in the Ala Region in Akure North Local Government, this initiative combines sustainable cultivation practices with high quality processing to set a new benchmark for cocoa excellence in Nigeria.
Developed by Zilex Agro Allied Hub (a subsidiary of ZILEX Limited), the project integrates plantation management, harvesting, and value added processing under one efficient operation. This vertical integration ensures superior quality control from farm to finished product, while incorporating modern agricultural techniques to maximize yield, sustainability, and environmental responsibility.
Strategic Partnership with Ondo State Government
The project operates under a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the Ondo State Government under the leadership of Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa. This collaboration aligns with the state’s vision to position Ondo as a leading hub for agribusiness, value addition, and sustainable economic growth.
It is structured as a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) involving the Ondo State Government, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, and the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment. The initiative has received approval and support from the Federal Government of Nigeria, reflecting national priorities for agricultural diversification, export promotion, and economic resilience.
This multi-level governmental backing underscores the project’s strategic importance, leveraging Ondo’s fertile lands, favorable climate, and established agricultural heritage while aligning with federal efforts to enhance agro-industrial development and non-oil exports.
Driving Employment and Economic Impact
Zilex Agro Hub is poised to generate significant direct and indirect jobs across the value chain from plantation workers and agronomists to processing staff, logistics personnel, and support services. This includes opportunities for local communities, youth empowerment programs, and skill development in modern farming and agro processing.
The initiative contributes to rural development by creating stable income sources, stimulating related industries (such as transportation, equipment supply, and services), and fostering economic multipliers throughout Ondo State and beyond.
Capitalizing on Global Market Dynamics
West Africa’s cocoa sector led by Ivory Coast and Ghana, which together supply over 60% of global production has faced recent challenges. These include sharp declines in international cocoa prices (down nearly 70% from late 2024 peaks due to improved harvest outlooks and softer demand), leading to unsold stocks, delayed payments to farmers, and significant farmgate price reductions (e.g., Ghana’s ~28.6% cut for the 2025/2026 season, with Ivory Coast considering similar adjustments).
These disruptions have strained smallholder farmers in those countries, creating supply chain vulnerabilities. Zilex Agro Hub positions Nigeria to step in as a reliable, high quality alternative supplier by scaling up efficient, integrated production that can meet global demand more consistently especially as global cocoa demand remains strong, with opportunities for value-added processing and export.
Export Focused Growth and Support for the Naira
The hub is designed to produce and export finished, value-added cocoa products (such as processed cocoa beans, cocoa butter, powder, and other derivatives) to markets worldwide. By shifting from raw commodity exports to higher value processed goods, the project captures more economic value within Nigeria.
This export orientation directly supports national efforts to boost non-oil earnings, increase foreign exchange inflows, and help strengthen the Naira through diversified, sustainable revenue streams.
Invitation to International Investors
Zilex Agro Hub is actively seeking international investors and strategic partners who want to be among the first to invest in this groundbreaking, large-scale cocoa project. With federal and state approvals, MoU-backed foundation, prime location in Nigeria’s top cocoa region, and focus on sustainable, high-quality production and processing, early investors stand to gain priority access to premium cocoa supply chains, attractive returns in a dynamic global market, and the opportunity to shape the future of West African cocoa amid ongoing regional supply challenges.
This is a prime chance to participate in a high-potential venture that combines scale, innovation, and strong multi-governmental support—positioning investors at the forefront of Nigeria’s rising role in the international cocoa trade.
Vision for the Future
Zilex Agro Hub is more than a plantation. It’s a model for sustainable agribusiness in Nigeria. By combining state-of-the-art technology, strategic partnerships, and a focus on quality and efficiency, it aims to elevate Nigeria’s role in the global cocoa market while delivering lasting benefits to communities, the economy, and the environment.
