Abuja, Nigeria — November 18, 2025
By Bilkis Abdulraheem Lawal
Nigeria has call for the establishment of a continental Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) framework to drive a new phase of cassava industrialisation across Africa, positioning the crop at the centre of the continent’s economic future.
The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, SAN, issued the call at the 2nd Africa Cassava Conference (ACC 2025), aligning the initiative with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and Executive Order 5, which prioritise the integration of STI into national development strategies.
Describing cassava as “one of Africa’s most potent economic game-changers,” Dr. Udeh stressed its potential to generate massive industrial growth, enhance food security, boost exports, and create millions of jobs. He emphasised that science and technology will be pivotal in transforming cassava from a traditional staple into a globally competitive industrial commodity.
“Nations that thrive in the future will be those capable of converting their agricultural abundance into high-value industrial wealth,” he noted, asserting that Nigeria is already paving the way with strategic focus and intent.
According to the Minister, Nigeria, which produced over 62 million tonnes of cassava in 2023, more than any other country worldwide, is well positioned to lead a technology-driven upgrade of the cassava value chain.
Cassava, once limited to basic food uses, is now a vital industrial input used in pharmaceuticals, biodegradable plastics, building materials, bioenergy, sweeteners, ethanol, adhesives, and other products. Dr. Udeh highlighted that the National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (NSTIP 2022) mandates the integration of STI in elevating agriculture into competitive industrial clusters.
He affirmed the Ministry’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, research institutions, biotechnology experts, farmer associations, private investors, and regional bodies, to realise the full potential of cassava-driven industrialisation in Africa.
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