Bizzell Signs MOU to Boost Agribusiness in Gabon
Bizzell International and Bizzell Global are proud to have participated in the U.S.-Africa Business Center event, hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce this month. This significant event brought together key players from both the U.S. and African business communities to explore opportunities for collaboration and growth.
Our CEO, Anton C. Bizzell, M.D., had the distinct honor of delivering the Vote of Thanks on behalf of the private sector. During this pivotal moment, Dr. Bizzell recognized His Excellency, President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, and the Gabonese delegation for their dedication to fostering business ties between the U.S. and Gabon.
One of the central topics highlighted by Bizzell during the signing of a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was the company’s commitment to addressing one of Gabon’s most pressing challenges—food insecurity. Gabon, despite its wealth of natural resources, remains heavily reliant on food imports, which leaves the country vulnerable to global supply chain disruptions. Through targeted partnerships and projects, Bizzell is actively working to help Gabon become more self-sufficient in food production.
Key initiatives Bizzell include:
- 5,000-hectare Maize and Soybean Plantation in Ndjokal/Roungassa: In collaboration with local partners, this project aims to produce 20,000 tons of maize and 11,200 tons of soybeans annually by 2028, reducing Gabon’s reliance on imported livestock feed.
- 2,000 hectares of Cassava and 1,000 hectares of Bananas: By cultivating these key crops locally and establishing a cassava processing unit, Gabon can significantly reduce its food imports, taking strides towards achieving food security.
- Agricultural Development in Kango and Andem: Spanning 23,000 hectares in Kango and 7,952 hectares in Andem, this project focuses on staple foods like cassava, taro, sweet potatoes, fruits, and expanding into poultry, pig farming, and aquaculture. The aim is to enhance Gabon’s local food production and reduce its dependency on imports.
These projects underscore Bizzell’s expertise in agribusiness and agricultural value chain development, providing critical solutions to Gabon’s food security challenges. With our support, Gabon is on a path toward a more sustainable agricultural future, ensuring long-term food security and economic stability for its people.
To learn more about these projects and our efforts in Africa, visit us at Bizzell Global.
About Bizzell
Bizzell is a consulting, strategy, investment, and technology firm headquartered in New Carrollton, Maryland, with offices in 20+ countries. Bizzell is a partner of choice for federal, state, and local government agencies, and private organizations. With a strong emphasis on innovation and impact, Bizzell transforms small ideas into powerful catalysts that drive change across markets worldwide.
Media Contact: Kwame Phillips
info@bizzellinternational.eu | 301.459.0100
The projects were donated as part of Bizzell’s corporate social responsibility and addresses both sustainable and equitable access to safe drinking water which remains a challenge in Nigeria. “It is estimated that more than 60 million people in Nigeria do not have access to basic clean water supply and that number grows each year as a result of climate change and population growth”, according to Dr. Bizzell. “Water saves lives and providing clean water is more important now than ever which is why we decided to construct and donate the water projects to the Odo Ayedub and Oke Ako communities in the Ekiti State of Nigeria”.
The commissioning of the projects was preceded by a ceremony at the palace of the traditional ruler of Odo Ayedun-Ekiti, His Royal Majesty Oba Dr. Solomon Ilesanmi Ajibade JP (Ajigbotoluwa I), the Owa of Odo Ayedun, who expressed his gratitude on behalf of the community, and conferred the chieftaincy title of Balógun Akórewọ̀lú of Odo Ayedun-Ekiti on Dr. Anton C. Bizzell, in recognition of his contribution to the development of the community. Dr. Bizzell, an African-American who traces his ancestry to Nigeria through ancestry DNA testing was also named ‘Ọmọ́wálé’ and welcomed as a son of the community.
The chieftaincy and commissioning ceremonies were witnessed by a mammoth crowd from the community, as well as senior government officials, traditional rulers, and other community stakeholders. The Ekiti First Lady H.E. Erelu Bisi Fayemi, on behalf of the Government of Ekiti State, thanked Bizzell for the kind gesture and appealed to them to favorably consider scaling up the intervention to benefit more communities. In her words, “You will find the Government and people of Ekiti state – the land of honor – to be people of integrity, who will always follow through with commitments they make to you and ensure such interventions are protected and well maintained.”