From Scratch to Scale: How African Diaspora Entrepreneurs Can Transform Nigeria’s Maize Industry

Can a simple corn tortilla teach us something profound about Africa’s agricultural potential? Could a recipe rooted in Mexican tradition inspire the African diaspora to rethink Nigeria’s role as an agribusiness powerhouse?

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These aren’t idle questions. They hint at an untapped opportunity hiding in plain sight: the chance to transform Nigeria’s maize industry, address food insecurity, and create jobs for millions. For African diaspora entrepreneurs, the question isn’t just if they should participate in this revolution.

Why Maize Matters More Than Ever

Maize, or corn, isn’t just food—it’s the backbone of economies and cultures worldwide. In Mexico, it’s the heart of tortillas, tamales, and more. In Africa, it takes forms like pap, tuwo, and akamu. Beyond its culinary versatility, maize is a critical component of animal feed, biofuel, and even industrial starch production.

In Nigeria, the potential for maize is enormous. With over 70.8 million hectares of agricultural land, the country is a giant in waiting. Yet the maize sector operates below capacity. Nigeria produces approximately 11 million metric tons annually, yet the demand surpasses 15 million metric tons. This deficit is either imported or smuggled, costing the nation billions in foreign exchange.

Challenges in Nigeria’s Maize Industry

The question is: why hasn’t Nigeria fully tapped into its maize potential? According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the barriers include:

Poor land tenure systems discourage investment.

Low levels of irrigation farming, despite vast water resources.
Climate change, which exacerbates land degradation.
High post-harvest losses due to inadequate storage facilities.
Limited financing options for smallholder farmers.

These challenges are not insurmountable, but they require targeted interventions and that’s where the African diaspora comes in.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Nigeria boasts 70.8 million hectares of agricultural land, with key crops including maize, cassava, guinea corn, yam beans, millet, and rice.

In 2017, Nigeria’s rice production reached 3.7 million metric tons, and by 2018, it had risen to 4.0 million metric tons. However, this figure still falls short of meeting the country’s annual consumption of 6.7 million metric tons, resulting in a deficit of around 3 million metric tons.

This gap is largely filled by imports or illegal smuggling. To address this issue, the Nigerian government imposed a rice importation ban in 2019 to stimulate local production.

Cassava, however, stands out as a major success in Nigeria’s agricultural landscape.

In 2017, Nigeria produced an impressive 59 million tons of cassava, cementing its position as the world’s largest producer, accounting for nearly 20 percent of global production.

With the potential for increased yields through improved varieties and advanced farming techniques, cassava’s economic prospects are substantial, offering high revenue both from domestic value addition and government revenue.

Despite these successes, animal production remains an underutilized resource. In Nigeria, livestock farming primarily revolves around small ruminants, with an estimated 76 million goats, 43.4 million sheep, and 18.4 million cattle.

The northern region of the country is particularly known for its livestock farming due to its favorable ecological conditions. Additionally, Nigeria has a poultry population of 180 million.

However, despite several efforts from development partners to boost production and combat animal diseases, including transboundary threats, domestic demand for livestock products continues to outpace local supply.

A Maize Metaphor: Lessons from Tortilla-Making

Imagine making tortillas from scratch. It’s a process that requires attention to detail: soaking the maize kernels (nixtamalization), grinding them into masa, shaping the dough, and cooking it on a hot griddle. Each step matters, and so does the final product—a versatile, delicious staple that can be filled with anything.

Now, think of Nigeria’s maize industry as masa. With care and investment, it can be shaped into an engine of economic growth and food security. Like tortillas, the possibilities are endless: maize can be processed into flour, turned into starch for industrial use, or exported as animal feed.

The African Diaspora: A Force for Change

The African diaspora sends billions of dollars home annually, and a significant portion goes into agriculture.

A study published on ResearchGate explores the impact of diaspora remittance inflows on human capital development (HCD) in Nigeria, focusing on improvements in health and education as key metrics for measuring progress.

By applying the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model and bounds testing approach to data from 1980 to 2021, the findings reveal that remittance inflows have a significant positive impact on HCD in Nigeria.

Specifically, the study highlights a strong negative relationship between remittances and infant mortality rates, suggesting that increased remittance inflows contribute to a substantial reduction in infant mortality. Furthermore, remittances were found to have a positive effect on life expectancy, particularly in the short term.

The research also noted a positive correlation between remittances and school enrollment rates, indicating that financial support from the diaspora contributes to educational access.

While the study affirms the important role of remittances in improving human capital development, it also advises caution. It warns that families who become overly reliant on remittance inflows may reduce their labor supply, which could potentially hinder broader economic growth.

Thus, the study suggests that while remittances play a crucial role in boosting development, recipients should balance their dependency on these funds with active participation in the labor market.

Yet, the full potential of these remittances remains untapped. According to the World Bank, Nigeria received $20.1 billion in diaspora remittances in 2022, making it one of the largest recipients in sub-Saharan Africa.

A fraction of this directed strategically into maize farming could revolutionize the sector.

Opportunities for Diaspora Entrepreneurs

The opportunities for African diaspora entrepreneurs are vast. Here’s how you can step in:

Invest in Value-Added Processing

The global market for maize-based products like tortillas, chips, and starch is growing. By establishing processing plants in Nigeria, you can create export-ready products while providing jobs locally.

Partner with Smallholder Farmers

Nigeria’s agricultural sector is dominated by smallholder farmers who lack access to credit and markets. As a diaspora entrepreneur, you can bridge this gap by funding cooperatives, providing access to mechanized equipment, and connecting farmers to global markets.

Leverage Government Policies

The Nigerian government has launched initiatives to boost agriculture, including the Agriculture Promotion Policy (APP) and the Zero Reject Initiative. These programs aim to increase agricultural productivity and improve the quality of exports. By aligning your business with these policies, you can access grants, subsidies, and tax incentives.

Innovate with Agritech

Agritech platforms are changing the game in African agriculture. Apps that connect farmers to buyers, provide real-time weather updates, or offer digital lending solutions are flourishing. By investing in or developing agritech solutions, you can modernize Nigeria’s maize industry.

Success Stories: Inspiration from the Diaspora

Take the example of Diaspora Agric Ventures, a UK-based company that collaborates with Nigerian farmers to grow organic maize for export. By combining remittances with technical expertise, they’ve built a sustainable business model that benefits both the local community and international consumers.

Similarly, agritech platforms like Thrive Agric and Farmcrowdy are attracting diaspora investments to fund maize farming projects. These platforms offer transparency and measurable returns, making them attractive for diaspora entrepreneurs.

The Ripple Effect: Job Creation and Food Security

Every dollar invested in agriculture has a multiplier effect. According to the FAO, agriculture accounts for 24% of Nigeria’s GDP and employs over 70% of the rural population. Expanding the maize sector could create thousands of jobs—from farm labor to processing and logistics.

Moreover, boosting maize production directly addresses food insecurity. With Nigeria’s population projected to exceed 400 million by 2050, meeting domestic food demand is critical. Increasing maize yields and reducing post-harvest losses can significantly improve food sufficiency.

Building a Sustainable Future

Sustainability should be at the heart of any maize investment strategy. This means adopting practices like crop rotation, organic farming, and efficient irrigation systems to preserve soil health and water resources. Programs like the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) offer valuable frameworks for environmental sustainability.

Additionally, integrating renewable energy such as solar-powered irrigation can reduce costs and mitigate climate impacts.

Taking the First Step: Start Small, Dream Big

So where do you begin? Start by learning from traditional maize-based recipes like tortillas. Experiment with small-scale maize farming projects. Partner with local farmers to understand the challenges and opportunities on the ground.

Platforms like AClasses Media offer resources and mentorship to help you craft a business strategy tailored to the Nigerian agribusiness landscape.

The maize industry in Nigeria is brimming with potential, waiting for visionaries like you to unlock it. By leveraging your resources, knowledge, and passion, you can transform maize from a humble staple into a global export and a tool for economic empowerment.

Are you ready to shape the future of African agriculture one kernel at a time? The journey starts now.