LAGOS/Nigeria: Cavista Holdings has appointed internationally renowned food scientist, Dr. Tony Bello, as Chief Innovation and Commercialization Officer at Matna Foods Limited, in a strategic move aimed at strengthening its agro-industrial drive following the recent acquisition of the food processing company.
The appointment underscores Cavista Holdings’ commitment to expanding Nigeria’s agricultural value chain and transforming local crops into globally competitive food products through innovation and large-scale commercialization.
Dr. Bello, a respected food scientist and industrial transformation expert, brings more than three decades of global experience spanning the United States, Europe, Asia and Africa. Over the years, he has built a strong reputation in food innovation, product development and agribusiness transformation.
He previously held senior innovation and commercialization positions at leading multinational food companies including PepsiCo Frito-Lay, The Kellogg Company and Kraft (General Foods), where he led several major product development initiatives and secured patents in food processing and formulation in both the United States and Europe.
Beyond the private sector, Dr. Bello has also provided advisory support to international development institutions and government agencies on agricultural value chains and agribusiness development. These include the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), as well as Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
He is particularly known for his pioneering work in advancing cassava as a scalable industrial and food ingredient with significant global market potential.
Commenting on the appointment, Chairman of Cavista Holdings and Agbeyewa Farms, Mr. Niyi John Olajide, described Dr. Bello’s recruitment as a major boost to the company’s long-term vision of building globally competitive food enterprises from African agricultural resources.
“We are delighted to welcome Dr. Tony Bello to the Cavista Holdings family. He brings world-class scientific expertise and deep commercialization experience that will strengthen our ambition to build globally competitive food businesses from African agriculture.
“His leadership will help unlock the full potential of cassava and accelerate the transformation of local crops into high-value products that can serve both Nigerian and international markets,” Olajide said.
In his new role at Matna Foods, Dr. Bello will spearhead the company’s innovation strategy, product development and commercialization initiatives, with a particular focus on expanding cassava-based food products for both domestic and export markets.
Industry observers say the appointment signals Cavista Holdings’ determination to position Matna Foods as a key player in Nigeria’s evolving agro-industrial sector while promoting value addition, food innovation and global competitiveness within the country’s agricultural economy.
