By Gift ChapiOdekina,Abuja

The Chief Executive Officer of Davidorlah Nigeria Limited and Founder of Davidorlah Farms, Segun Alabi, has called for an urgent overhaul of Africa’s agricultural model, urging a shift from the export of raw produce to the development of value-added industries across the continent.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, Alabi described the continued export of unprocessed agricultural commodities as a major factor behind Africa’s economic challenges, despite its vast natural resources.

He lamented what he termed a persistent paradox of wealth and poverty, noting that while Africa and Nigeria are richly endowed, many citizens continue to face economic hardship.

According to him, decades of exporting raw agricultural products have denied the continent critical opportunities for job creation, revenue generation and industrial growth.

Alabi explained that exporting unprocessed goods only to import finished products at higher costs has created a cycle that weakens local economies and limits development.
He stressed that every raw commodity exported represents lost economic value, which could otherwise be harnessed domestically through processing and industrialisation.

Using pineapple as an example, he noted that while the fruit sells for relatively low prices in its raw form, it can generate significantly higher returns when processed into products such as juice concentrate, dried fruit and pharmaceutical-grade extracts.

Alabi said this realisation informed the establishment of Davidorlah Nigeria Limited, which he described as an integrated agro-industrial platform focused on large-scale production, processing and export of high-value agricultural products.

He explained that the company’s model is designed to benefit farmers, investors and the broader economy by increasing earnings, generating foreign exchange and strengthening industrial capacity.

Alabi added that adopting such an approach on a larger scale could lead to job creation, boost Gross Domestic Product (GDP), reduce import dependence, attract foreign investment and curb youth migration.

He, however, emphasised the need for supportive government policies to drive agro-industrial growth, particularly in the areas of processing infrastructure, export facilitation and access to financing.

Alabi also urged investors to look beyond primary agricultural production and focus on value chain opportunities, describing agro-processing as the future of the sector.

He further noted that Africa is gradually repositioning itself in the global economy, moving from being a supplier of raw materials to a producer of value-added goods.

Alabi concluded by describing his company as a reflection of the continent’s potential, stating that Africa’s challenge is not a lack of resources but the failure to maximise value through processing and innovation.