By Dayo Johnson, Akure

The Founder and Group Managing Director of CapitalSage Holdings, John Alamu, has advocated for accelerated investment in value addition and agricultural industrialisation, saying its a defining strategy for Ondo State’s long-term economic transformation.

Alamu said this while speaking at the Ondo Investment Summit 2026, themed “The New Ondo: Forging the Pathway to Prosperity.

He urged investors and policymakers to prioritise large-scale processing, manufacturing, and integrated value chain development as the foundation for sustainable growth.

According to him, “although Ondo State possesses the agricultural depth, strategic positioning, and human capital required to emerge as a leading industrial hub, real prosperity will depend on the scale of investment committed to transforming agricultural output into higher-value products.

ThecGroup Managing Director-General described value addition as the central lever of sustainable transformation.

He noted that “it strengthens economic output, creates skilled employment, retains wealth within the state, and deepens Nigeria’s participation in global value chains.

Drawing from his experience in reviving moribund factories and repositioning them into production powerhouses, Alamu stressed that large-scale agro-processing is both proven and scalable.

According to him “through Johnvents Group, a global value chain participant and agro-processing subsidiary of CapitalSage Holdings, previously dormant industrial assets have been revitalised into fully operational manufacturing hubs.

“What started as a single distressed cocoa facility in Akure has expanded into a network of ten factories across four major towns in Ondo State.

“The facilities include an 18,000 metric tonne cocoa processing plant in Akure, a 30,000 metric tonne Premium Cocoa Products facility in Ile-Oluji, and the Noble-Eagle Industrial Complex in Idanre and Owo, producing cocoa derivatives, edible oils, seasoning cubes, beverages, and animal feed for both domestic and international markets.

“Currently, Johnvents Group employs over 3,000 people directly and indirectly, integrates more than 20,000 farmers into structured supply networks, and supports more than 10,000 students through education, vocational training, and sports initiatives.

Alamu emphasised that the next phase of growth requires scale, expanded processing capacity, stronger infrastructure, and sustained collaboration between government and private capital.

“What is required now is scale, greater processing capacity, stronger infrastructure, and sustained collaboration between government and private capital,” he said.

He also called for continued focus on reliable power supply, regulatory clarity, predictable policy frameworks, and infrastructure expansion, noting that when the government reduces friction and private capital moves decisively, transformation accelerates.

Alamu said “When the government reduces friction and private capital moves decisively, transformation accelerates.