Origin Automobile Works, a subsidiary of Origin Tech Group Nigeria, has launched a Corporate Farm Model Initiative aimed at attracting large-scale investment into agriculture and strengthening Nigeria’s food security.
The initiative, unveiled in Lagos, is designed to integrate technology, mechanisation, financing and market access to transform agriculture from subsistence activity into a structured and commercially viable sector.
Speaking at the launch, the Executive Chairman of Origin Tech Group, Prince S. Joseph, said the programme seeks to unlock the economic potential of agriculture while ensuring farmers benefit fully from the value they create.
“Corporate farming is the pathway to unlocking the true potential of agriculture. Our mission is simple but powerful: 100 per cent agriculture, 100 per cent value.
Farmers must receive the full economic benefits of their labour while agriculture becomes a sustainable engine of national prosperity,” he said.
Joseph explained that the corporate farm model is intended to attract serious investors into agriculture while empowering large-scale farmers through a system that combines mechanisation, modern technology and structured financing.
The Chief Executive Operating Officer of Origin Automobile Works, Leo Edwards, said the initiative is structured as an integrated framework covering the entire agricultural value chain, from production to market access.
According to him, the programme operates through four strategic pillars: Whole Farm Management, which focuses on comprehensive farm development and operations; Farm for Me, which provides managed agricultural investment opportunities for individuals and institutions; Harvest for Me, which offers harvesting and yield optimisation services; and Support for Smallholder Farmers, which gives small-scale farmers access to mechanisation, inputs and markets.
Edwards noted that the initiative incorporates end-to-end mechanisation and a robust equipment ecosystem designed to minimise risks while improving productivity and profitability.
He added that growing food demand across Africa presents significant opportunities for investors, projecting that the African Sahel region could become one of the world’s major food markets within the next five years.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Abisola Olusanya, commended the initiative, describing it as a step that aligns with the state’s efforts to build resilient food systems and expand agricultural opportunities.
“Agriculture remains fundamental to human survival and economic development. Initiatives like Corporate Farm align with Lagos State’s commitment to building resilient food systems and expanding agricultural opportunities,” she said.
Industry stakeholders also expressed support for the initiative. The President of the Maize Association of Nigeria, Mohammed Annur, highlighted the importance of farmers in ensuring national security, noting that sustained investment in agriculture is critical for food stability.
The event also drew participation from the financial sector, including Oluseyi Oyefeso, Executive Director, South Retail Division at First Bank of Nigeria, who emphasised the role of structured financing in expanding agricultural enterprises.
The Managing Director of EKOLOG, Femi Ajayi, described the Corporate Farm initiative as a forward-looking model capable of unlocking new investment opportunities across Nigeria’s agricultural value chain.
During a panel discussion moderated by TVC News Director of News, Babajide Kolade-Otitoju, Joseph also revealed that Origin Tech Group is exploring plans to enable Lagos to begin producing fresh milk locally within the next two years, a move aimed at reducing the country’s reliance on imported dairy products.
Stakeholders at the event said initiatives that combine technology, private investment and coordinated partnerships could play a critical role in transforming Nigeria’s agriculture sector into a major driver of economic growth and job creation.
