The Kano State government has commended the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) for its commitment to boosting agricultural outputs and promoting industrialisation in the state.
This followed the commissioning of a multimillion-naira peanut snack processing factory in Kano.
A representative of the Kano State Ministry of Agriculture, Alhaji Aminu Iliyasu, who is also the state coordinator of the Special Agro-industrial Processing Zones, SAPZ, said the inauguration of the factory is due to the business-friendly climate of the state government and reaffirmed their commitment to revitalising Kano’s agricultural value chain.
The coordinator expressed the commendation of the state government to the FCDO, noting that such initiatives boost quality agricultural outcomes and promote industrialisation.
Iliyasu reiterated the readiness of the Kano state government to welcome private initiatives that will see to increased local manufacturing, generate jobs and reduce the country’s dependency on food imports.
“Kano State, under the leadership of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, is actively working to revive its agro-industrial base.
“This factory aligns with our vision through the SAPZ programme, which seeks to attract private sector players into food processing hubs.”
The factory project was through its Smart Agric and climate program, Propcom+.
Speaking at the event, which was held in Kano during the week, the Team Lead for the Propcom+, Dr. Adiya Ode, said the significant milestone is a testament to how donor support can de-risk agribusiness ventures and unlock inclusive economic impact.
“Through our collaboration, we co-financed this factory and strengthened the supply chain from smallholder farmers to the market. It’s a shared success.
“The facility also addresses aflatoxin contamination—a major barrier in Nigeria’s peanut sector—while providing nutrition and jobs.”
She was confident that the factory commissioning will boost farmers’ incomes, enhanced agricultural practices, and lead to an increase in access to affordable, nutritious peanut-based products that contribute to reducing malnutrition.
In his remarks at the commissioning, Executive Director of Ajrena Foods, Mr. Ajay Ramnani, described the facility as a testament to the power of collaboration and local innovation, noting that the project, funded in part by a grant from the FCDO, will process locally-grown peanuts into Nutzy-branded coated snacks, create jobs, and boost rural incomes.
“This facility is not just a factory; it is the realisation of a vision we began over a decade ago—to process Nigerian peanuts to global standards and bring back the era of groundnut pyramids,” Ramnani said.
He further commended the FCDO and Propcom+, stating that “we have been able to build, equip, and link our production directly to over 1,000 trained smallholder farmers, mostly women and youth.”
He revealed that the factory is dedicated to peanut cleaning and processing, and emphasised that backwards integration has enabled traceability, quality control, and consistent supply from the grassroots.
The Ajrena Foods Factory, located in the Sharada industrial estate in Kano, is seen as a game changer for agribusiness development in Nigeria’s north through modernised food processing and supply chain efficiency.
