GBHub Africa invests to improve food security.

Iyke Bede

GBHub Africa announced a N150 million impact investment in Inyene Agro Processing Factory Ltd, aimed at enhancing food security, nutrition and sustainable agricultural development in Nigeria.

The funding is intended to broaden Inyene Agro’s cassava processing activities, raise rural economic participation and improve access to nutritious food products, especially in underserved areas.

Inyene Agro was founded by agropreneur Blessing Akpan. The company runs a modular cassava processing plant in Akwa Ibom State that produces Vitamin A‑biofortified cassava flakes (garri) to help combat micronutrient deficiencies among vulnerable groups. Akpan also serves on the International Advisory Group for the Nutrition for Growth Summit 2025 in Paris.

With the new capital, Inyene Agro plans to increase its processing capacity from four tonnes to 16 tonnes per month and to add other cassava‑based products such as flour, starch and animal feed. The expansion is expected to reinforce supply chains that serve both consumer and industrial markets.

The company says the growth programme will generate more than 200 jobs, provide training and market‑access opportunities to over 1,000 smallholder farmers, and deepen economic participation for women and young people in rural communities.

Commenting on the investment, Vicenç Bosch, CEO of GBFoods Africa, said the partnership reflects the firm’s long‑term commitment to strengthening Africa’s food systems through local investment and community‑driven growth.

“Our connection to local communities sits at the heart of our strategy in Africa. Beyond developing products that reflect local tastes and sourcing locally, we are intentional about driving deeper, long‑term impact,” he said.

“Through GBHub Africa, we are investing in local production, strengthening food systems, and supporting businesses that have the potential to transform communities at scale. This investment in Inyene Agro marks an important step in that journey, and it reflects our unwavering commitment, alongside our shareholders, to prioritising sustainable growth and shared prosperity across the continent.”

Vincent Egbe, CEO of GBFoods Nigeria, said the investment highlights broader opportunities within Nigeria’s agricultural economy, particularly in closing the gap between rural production and industrial demand.

“Nigeria is the world’s largest producer of cassava, generating over 55 million metric tons annually, yet we still import more than $500 million in cassava derivatives.

“This persists because rural farm output remains structurally disconnected from urban industrial demand, suppressing farmer incomes and placing unnecessary pressure on the naira. Closing that gap is precisely why GBHub exists.”

Egbe added that the partnership shows how agricultural output can be turned into industrial and export value, and called for greater agribusiness innovation across key value chains such as grains, spices, legumes, tomatoes and tubers.

Akpan described the investment as timely and transformative for the company’s growth ambitions.

“This timely investment will catalyse our mission to scale sustainable agricultural practices across the region. With this strategic injection of capital, we are poised to accelerate growth, enhance infrastructure, boost food production, and expand our outreach. We eagerly anticipate a future of abundance and the transformative impact we will achieve together,” she concluded.