Millers for Nutrition with EDCEL, BASF, and Mega Capital Facilitate B2B Linkage for Groundbreaking Oil Refinery Supporting 10,000 Youths and Women in North-Eastern Nigeria.
LAGOS, NIGERIA – A significant partnership is underway to establish a state-of-the-art oil
refinery in Gombe State, North-Eastern Nigeria, promising to improve nutrition and create
economic opportunities for thousands. The Gombe State Oil Modular Refinery Project is a
collaborative effort involving Millers for Nutrition and their strategic fortification partner BASF,
who will provide funding support. EDCEL Ltd. and the Gombe State Groundnut Oil Millers
Association (GSGOMA) will then establish the oil refinery.
The project, discussed during a recent closed-door executive roundtable, aims to build a 20-ton
service refinery at the Gombe groundnut oil industrial center. This facility will focus on producing
refined groundnut oil fortified with Vitamin A, addressing nutritional deficiencies prevalent in the
region. This is expected to benefit approximately 10,000 youths and women under the age of 45
and unlock a 500 million naira investment (about 315,000 US Dollar).
Alhaji Umar Madugu, Deputy Chairman of GSGOMA, highlighted the dual benefits of the
project. “This partnership will be an opportunity for us local millers to produce refined oil with
Vitamin A that will improve the health of the people of North-Eastern Nigeria,” he said. “Another
good part of this partnership is that it is economically beneficial to the people.”
Ayodele Tella, Senior Program Manager at Millers for Nutrition, emphasized the collaborative
spirit and mission behind the project. “Vision, purpose, alignment, and partnership truly captured
the atmosphere of the discussion,” Tella stated. “The focus was on establishing a 20-ton service
refinery. The B2B linkage and sponsored coordination between EDCEL Ltd, the sole producer of
the diluted vitamin A palmitate fortificant for micro-small oil millers, and the leadership of the
Gombe state groundnut oil millers association, perfectly embodies the core mission of Millers for
Nutrition. This initiative aims to sustainably provide adequately fortified staples to vulnerable
consumers through effective private sector partnerships.”
EDCEL Ltd., playing a crucial role in the project by providing vitamin A fortificant, also shared
their perspective. Cletus Chibuko, Managing Director of EDCEL Ltd., noted, “We are proud to be
a part of this project that will not only enhance nutritional outcomes but also empower local
communities. Providing the necessary fortificant is a key step in ensuring the long-term health
benefits of this initiative.”
This partnership aligns with the broader mission of Millers for Nutrition, a coalition dedicated to
helping millers fortify staple foods like wheat, maize, edible oil, and rice. Millers for Nutrition
supports millers across eight countries in Africa and Asia, including Nigeria, connecting them
with experts and resources to improve food nutrition and business competitiveness. Millers for
Nutrition is powered by TechnoServe with funding support from the Gates Foundation.
As the project progresses, it holds the promise of serving as a model for sustainable
development and public-private partnerships across Nigeria, showcasing how strategic
collaborations can drive tangible, positive change in communities.
chairman, Gombe State Groundnut Oil MIllers Association; Mr Sam Onukwue, GMD/CEO Mega Capital;
Cletus Chibuko, managing director of Edcel Ltd; Mrs.Talatu Jubril, lawyer, Yahdima Chambers; Sani Yau,
chairman, Gombe State Oil MIllers Association;
(Standing L-R) Cyprain C. Ugwejeh, Project Consultant; Babajide Ogunleye, Food Fortification Specialist
at TechnoServe; Olusola Showunmi, Senior Food Fortification Specialist at TechnoServe; Ayodele Tella,
Senior Program Manager, TechnoServe; Ifunanya Aginam, business development / account manager at
BASF; Uche Emmanuel, managing director at Mega Capital; Captain Peter Ngere, Director, Mega Capital.
