The Chief Executive Officer of Datesstore Nigeria Limited, Olatunde Mustapha, has announced a strategic partnership between his company and stakeholders in Saudi Arabia in what he described as boosting Nigeria’s agro processing sector through the supply of raw dates, seedlings, technology and technical expertise.
Speaking at the collaboration held in Saudi Arabia, Mustapha told reporters that the partnership is designed to strengthen Nigeria’s manufacturing base, create jobs and increase export earnings through value addition in date processing.
“This partnership with Saudi Arabia is a deliberate step towards building a sustainable date processing industry in Nigeria, with access to raw materials, improved seedlings and modern processing technology,” he said.
This partnership follows Mustapha’s numerous collaborations with Egypt, Algeria, and China.
He explained that the initiative would also support agricultural development in Northern Nigeria, where climate conditions favour date cultivation, while opening up new opportunities for farmers and agro based entrepreneurs.
“The North has the natural advantage for date farming, and with the right seedlings and expertise, we can scale production and empower local communities,” he said.
He added that the collaboration aligns with Nigeria’s economic policies by attracting foreign direct investment and facilitating technology transfer into the country.
“This project fits squarely with government priorities on economic diversification, industrialisation and agricultural development,” Mustapha said.
According to him, the long term vision of the partnership is to position Nigeria as Africa’s leading hub for date processing and export.
“Our goal is to make Nigeria the centre for date processing in Africa, supplying regional and international markets with high quality products,” he said.
In response, a representative of Taj Al Nakheel Factory, a leading date processor based in the Al Madinah Industrial City, Saudi Arabia, Said ibn Malik, expressed confidence in the partnership and Nigeria’s potential.
“We see Nigeria as a strategic partner with enormous agricultural capacity and a growing market, and we are committed to sharing our expertise and technology to build a world class date processing industry,” he said.
Malik emphasised that the collaboration would foster mutual economic growth while strengthening ties between Saudi Arabia and Nigeria.
“This partnership is not only about business, but about creating lasting value, skills development and shared prosperity for both countries,” he added.
