Olam Agri has opened a $50 million soybean crushing plant and feed mill complex in Ilorin, Kwara State, making it the largest facility of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa. The plant has an annual processing capacity of 250,000 to 350,000 metric tonnes and will support local soybean production while supplying raw materials to the company’s feed milling unit and its subsidiary, Ruyat Oil.
At the same event, Olam Agri launched Mama’s Pride Soya Oil, a refined cooking oil it says is cholesterol-free and tailored for Nigerian kitchens. The oil is now available nationwide in PET bottles (500ml, 1L, and 2L), pouches (350ml and 1L), and a 25L keg.
Saurabh Kumar, Africa Head of Edible Oil Processing at Olam Agri, described the product as a carefully developed innovation. "Mama’s Pride Soya Oil is proudly produced in Nigeria for Nigerians," Kumar said at the launch. He said the oil builds on the company’s existing footprint across rice, wheat milling, animal feed, and sesame value chains.
Country Head and Managing Director Anil Nair said the company will continue to invest in developing key value chains, people, food safety, and support the country’s economic growth, according to BusinessDay.
Head of Marketing Bola Adeniji urged consumers to choose healthy, non-adulterated edible oils, according to Business Post Nigeria. "We call on our trade partners and dealers to champion authentic brands and help eliminate adulterated products from the market for the overall health of Nigerians," Adeniji said.
The launch comes at a time when cooking oil prices in Lagos have been climbing steadily. FoodPrices Nigeria tracks Kings Vegetable Oil and Power Oil across multiple Lagos markets. A new domestically produced competitor sourcing soybeans locally could introduce price competition in a segment where costs have been rising due to imported raw material dependency and naira depreciation.