A $2.5 billion cotton processing facility is set to begin operations in Ogun State, according to Governor Dapo Abiodun. The factory, expected to be the largest of its kind globally, is part of the Renewed Hope Cotton Resurgence initiative led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Speaking at the launch of the AgricConnect Mini Programme in Abeokuta, a digital agriculture platform, the Governor revealed that the cotton plant will process up to 1,000 tonnes of cotton daily—translating into a garment production capacity of approximately four million pieces per day. Once operational, it is projected to create about 250,000 direct and indirect jobs. President Tinubu is expected to officially break ground at the site within the next two months.
The event also marked the rollout of the AgricConnect initiative, a joint effort by the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Ogun State Government, and telecom partners. The programme is designed to support farmers with mobile-based tools for agricultural intelligence, helping them make data-driven decisions.
Governor Abiodun noted that 1,000 farmers will benefit initially under the state’s Farmer’s Information Management System, which links participants to weather data, crop guidance, and market access through a unified digital platform.
He further highlighted that Ogun State recently recorded one of the lowest month-on-month increases in food inflation nationwide, citing data from the National Bureau of Statistics. This, he said, reflects the broader economic reforms championed by President Tinubu.
In his remarks, Communications Minister Dr. Bosun Tijani emphasized the federal government’s push for food security through modern agriculture, stating that innovation—not just land or labor—will be the driving force behind increased productivity. He added that the Southwest region holds significant potential to lead the country in agricultural output.
State Commissioner for Agriculture, Bolu Owootomo, echoed these views, describing AgricConnect as a key step toward transforming farmers into digitally equipped agripreneurs who can thrive in today’s evolving food economy.
