Sequoia Holdings Breaks Ground on Africa's Largest Cassava Ecosystem in Nasarawa State

Kokona, Nasarawa State, Nigeria – February 11, 2026

Sequoia Holdings has officially broken ground on a 10,000-hectare integrated Cassava Industrial City (SCIC) in Kokona, Nasarawa State, marking a significant milestone in Nigeria’s agro-industrial development and large-scale cassava value chain expansion.

The project, commissioned by the Governor of Nasarawa State, His Excellency Engr. Abdullahi A. Sule, positions Nasarawa as an emerging hub for cassava processing and agro-industrial investment in Nigeria. The ceremony drew participation from financial institutions, agribusiness leaders, policymakers, and representatives of the National Cassava Growers Association.

Valued at over ₦30 billion, the Sequoia Cassava Industrial City is structured as a vertically integrated agricultural and industrial ecosystem spanning large-scale cassava cultivation, aggregation, processing, and value addition. The 10,000-hectare development will support structured farming operations alongside modern processing infrastructure for ethanol production, industrial starch processing, and other cassava derivatives.

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Integrated Cassava Value Chain at Industrial Scale

Unlike traditional cassava farming clusters, the SCIC model integrates primary agricultural production with on-site industrial processing capacity. By combining cultivation and processing within a single industrial platform, Sequoia Holdings aims to reduce post-harvest losses, improve efficiency, and deepen cassava value addition in Nigeria.

The project includes:

• Structured cassava cultivation across 10,000 hectares
• A centralized processing complex for ethanol and starch production
• A structured outgrower integration framework
• Export-oriented industrial outputs
• Supporting infrastructure for long-term agro-industrial operations

This integrated value chain model strengthens Nigeria’s cassava processing capacity while aligning with national goals around food security, import substitution, and industrial diversification.

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Community Development and Women Inclusion

A core pillar of the Sequoia Cassava Industrial City is its community-linked outgrower model. The project is expected to integrate over 500 outgrower farmers from host communities, with a minimum target of 80 percent women participation.

By combining industrial-scale agriculture with structured rural inclusion, the initiative supports women empowerment, rural economic development, and sustainable livelihood expansion across Nasarawa State.

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Leadership Perspective

Chairman of Sequoia Holdings, Cheta Udezue, described the project as a strategic transition from commodity farming to industrial agriculture in Nigeria.

“Agriculture in Nigeria must evolve from subsistence production to integrated industrial systems. The Sequoia Cassava Industrial City is designed as a complete ecosystem — from soil to processing — enabling scale, efficiency, and long-term value creation. This is how we build sustainable agro-industrial capacity in Africa.”

Governor Abdullahi Sule commended the initiative, noting that the project aligns with Nasarawa State’s agro-industrial transformation agenda and public-private partnership framework aimed at attracting large-scale agricultural investment into the state.

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Strengthening Nigeria’s Cassava Processing Industry

Nigeria is one of the world’s largest producers of cassava. However, a significant portion of industrial derivatives such as ethanol and industrial starch are still imported.

The Sequoia Cassava Industrial City is positioned to expand domestic processing capacity, reduce reliance on imports, and improve Nigeria’s competitiveness in agro-industrial exports. The project is also expected to generate thousands of direct and indirect jobs, strengthen rural livelihoods, and contribute to broader economic growth.

By consolidating production, processing, and structured farmer integration within a single 10,000-hectare industrial platform, Sequoia Holdings aims to establish a scalable model for cassava industrialisation in Nigeria and across Africa.

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About Sequoia Holdings

Sequoia Holdings is a diversified investment and industrial development group focused on building scalable ecosystems across agriculture, infrastructure, and value-chain-driven sectors in Nigeria and Africa. Through long-term partnerships and integrated operational models, the company advances sustainable industrial growth and agro-industrial transformation.