In the dynamic and vital arena of agricultural development, few names resonate with the quiet authority of Prince Benson Adeyemi and his esteemed Real Trade Development Company.
For well over two decades, this organization has operated as a pivotal conduit, masterfully orchestrating the symphony of international investment and governmental vision to cultivate tangible progress on Nigerian soil.
Their core mission is a powerful trifecta: to attract, facilitate, and broker joint venture partnerships that birth not just projects, but legacies of food sufficiency, mass employment, and robust export economies.
The company’s portfolio stands as a testament to its efficacy and reputation. They were the architects behind the landmark joint partnership between the Ondo State Government and Shepherd Agriculture from South Africa, a collaboration that culminated in the commissioning and operation of a vast thousand-hectare farmland in Ore—a beacon of modern agricultural practice. Yet, their expertise transcends a single sector.
In a remarkable display of versatility, Real Trade Development was also responsible for facilitating the real estate venture that brought Chinese investors to Ondo State for the construction of the prestigious Sunshine Estate, a location that now proudly houses the Entrepreneurial Development Centre of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA).
Speaking at the vibrant 2025 edition of the LCCI Agro-Allied Fair and Symposium, Prince Benson Adeyemi expressed profound encouragement at the innovative spirit displayed by a new generation of agripreneurs, particularly those delving into manufacturing and production.
This shift towards value addition aligns perfectly with the ideal his company embodies. With a bold and confident outlook, he revealed that Real Trade Development currently holds over ten business-ready models, seeking serious partnership and joint venture opportunities.
The foreign investors, he notes, are poised and ready to engage; however, the crucial next step hinges on governmental invitation for detailed deliberations, which would then open the floodgates for local participation in these bold and exciting schemes.
Adeyemi highlights a key preference from their international partners: a comfort and assurance that comes primarily with direct business affiliation to government entities, a model proven successful with the Chinese and South African examples.
This government-led approach, he argues, is not exclusionary but rather foundational; it creates a framework of trust and stability that subsequently unlocks doors for local investors, SMEs, and stakeholders to thrive within a secured ecosystem.
Nevertheless, the path of a facilitator is not without its challenges. Prince Benson candidly acknowledges the hurdles posed by bureaucratic bottlenecks and the dreaded discontinuity of projects following political transitions, which can make governments challenging partners at times.
He points to a visionary strategy employed by South Africa, where graduates in agriculture and related disciplines are incentivized with higher pay, actively motivating the youth to embrace agriculture as a viable and prestigious career.
This, he suggests, is a powerful blueprint for the Nigerian government to adopt—a strategic move to incentivize participation, ensure sustainability, and ultimately restore the nation’s pride of place as a leading agricultural force among comity of nations.
The call, therefore, is an open invitation to governments at all levels—Federal, State, and Local—to partner in this mission of cultivation, for the benefit of the masses and the nation’s future.
