The Presidential Villa, Aso Rock, was the epicenter of agricultural innovation and youth empowerment on Thursday, July 3, 2025, as the country celebrated World Cassava Day with the theme, “Driving Industrialization, Food Security, and Export.” A major highlight of the event was the fiercely contested National Cassava Pitch Competition, which saw the emergence of 10 outstanding finalists from over 350 applications received across Nigeria.
Among the elite group of finalists was Dibie Charles Oriekose, a final-year student of Animal Production and Health at the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE). Oriekose presented a groundbreaking project, the Cassava Bio Seed Hub, which seeks to revolutionize cassava farming in Nigeria by supplying farmers with clean, disease-free, high-yielding cassava stems a solution to one of the most pressing problems in cassava production nationwide.
The competition, held before an esteemed gathering of policymakers, international development partners, and captains of industry, provided a rare national platform for young innovators like Oriekose to pitch agricultural solutions capable of transforming Nigeria’s food system and economy. His idea received particular praise for its scientific grounding, economic feasibility, and alignment with Nigeria’s broader agro-industrial goals.
Oriekose explained that his innovation was born out of years of field observation and academic research. “I noticed that most farmers struggle with poor yields and frequent disease outbreaks because of the low quality of cassava stems used for planting,” he said. “The Cassava Bio Seed Hub is designed to offer certified, disease-free stems sourced from clean tissue culture, thereby helping farmers boost productivity and earn more.”
The event was graced by Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, who commended the innovation and reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to positioning cassava as a strategic crop in Nigeria’s food security, industrialization, and export diversification agenda. Other high-profile guests included the Minister of State for Agriculture, the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, the IFAD Country Representative, and top officials from the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI) and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA).
In a post-event statement, FUOYE’s Acting Vice Chancellor, Professor Olubunmi Shittu, expressed immense pride in Oriekose’s achievement, hailing it as a reflection of the university’s commitment to grooming innovative and problem-solving graduates. “Charles has proven that our students are capable of developing scalable solutions to national challenges,” she said. “His project tackles a crucial pain point in cassava production and exemplifies the kind of entrepreneurship and innovation we strive to instill in our students.”
Prof. Shittu further emphasized that FUOYE, through its Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, has been intentional about equipping students with the tools and platforms to transition from academic excellence to practical impact. “Our goal is to produce job creators and thought leaders. Charles’ success at the World Cassava Day competition shows that our strategy is working,” she added.
The National Cassava Pitch Competition panel was composed of agricultural scientists, venture capitalists, policy experts, and agribusiness executives who evaluated ideas based on originality, scalability, sustainability, and alignment with national development goals. Oriekose’s Bio Seed Hub met and exceeded many of these metrics, placing him firmly among Nigeria’s top 10 young agripreneurs in 2025.
World Cassava Day 2025 served not only as a celebration of cassava’s importance to Nigeria’s economy but also as a launchpad for future-facing innovations. With Nigeria being the largest producer of cassava globally producing over 59 million metric tons annually, according to FAO data investments in technologies and clean seed systems like Oriekose’s are deemed essential to increasing yields, reducing post-harvest losses, and opening new markets.
Beyond the pitch competition, the event featured panel discussions, exhibitions, and the unveiling of new cassava processing technologies by Nigerian and international firms. Cassava has remained a cornerstone of Nigeria’s agricultural sector, contributing significantly to food security and providing raw materials for over 50 industrial products including ethanol, starch, and animal feed.
As the event concluded, the Nigerian government reiterated its support for young innovators through grants, incubation hubs, and access to global networks. For Oriekose and his fellow finalists, the recognition and exposure at the World Cassava Day event represent a turning point in their entrepreneurial journeys and a call to lead Nigeria’s agricultural transformation from the frontlines.
Dibie Charles Oriekose’s success underscores the role of youth in driving a future where agriculture is both a profitable venture and a tool for national development. As he returns to FUOYE to complete his final semester, the nation will be watching to see how the Cassava Bio Seed Hub evolves into a national enterprise capable of improving the lives of millions of farmers and consumers alike.
