By Christiana Ekpa
A Nigerian agro-industrial entrepreneur, David Orlah, has called for a radical shift in Africa’s economic model, warning that the continent will continue to “import poverty” unless it stops exporting raw materials and begins processing them locally for global markets.
Speaking at a stakeholder engagement attended by government officials, investors, and members of the press, the Chief Executive Officer of Davidorlah Nigeria Limited said Africa’s long-standing dependence on raw commodity exports has deprived it of jobs, revenue, and industrial growth.
“Africa is rich. Nigeria is rich. Yet our people are struggling,” he said. “We export raw materials, import finished products, export jobs, and import unemployment. That is the structural problem we must fix.”
Orlah argued that the continent’s economic challenge is not rooted in a lack of resources but in its failure to capture value across production chains.
Using pineapple as an example, he noted that while the fruit may sell for as little as $3 to $5 in raw form, its processed derivatives such as juice concentrate, dried fruit, and pharmaceutical-grade bromelain can generate up to ten times more value.
“Every raw export is a missed opportunity missed jobs, missed revenue, missed industrialisation,” he said. “This is not just farming; this is industrial wealth creation.”
He explained that Davidorlah Nigeria Limited was established not merely as a farming enterprise but as a fully integrated agro-industrial platform focused on large-scale production, processing, and export of high-value agricultural products.
According to him, the company’s model is designed to improve farmer earnings, deliver investor returns, boost Nigeria’s foreign exchange inflows, and position Africa as a competitive player in global value chains.
“We are moving agriculture from survival to industry,” he stated.
Orlah further stressed that scaling such models across the continent could significantly impact economic development by creating jobs, increasing GDP, reducing import dependence, and attracting foreign investment.
“This is not just business; this is nation-building,” he added.
He, however, urged governments across Africa to create enabling policies that support agro-processing infrastructure, ease export bottlenecks, and improve access to financing. He also called for stronger backing of indigenous companies driving value addition within the agricultural sector.
“Supporting companies like ours is not just supporting a business—it is supporting economic transformation,” he said.
Addressing investors, Orlah described agro-processing as the future of agriculture, noting that opportunities now lie in value-chain development rather than primary production.
“This is more than an investment opportunity; it is a chance to be part of a movement that solves Africa’s economic challenge,” he said, adding that Nigeria remains a strategic destination for long-term investment.
He concluded with a broader message to the international community, asserting that Africa is transitioning from a supplier of raw materials to a value-creating continent.
“The time has come to stop exporting our future, our jobs, and our wealth,” he said. “The future belongs to those who process what they produce.”
Never miss a moment! Get the stories shaping Nigeria, delivered straight to your phone. Follow Peoplesdaily Newspaper on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive reports, and the headlines everyone will be talking about, before anyone else.
