SIAT Group marks its journey and the people behind it

SIAT Group (Société d’Investissement pour l’Agriculture Tropicale NV) is a top agro-industrial group in Africa and the main shareholder of Presco Plc. They recently held a special event to celebrate their journey, leadership, and the people who made it happen. This event, called SIAT Forward, took place on Friday, 21 August 2026.

The theme for the night was “Legacy, Leadership & the Future.” Many important guests attended, including the founding family, retired Directors, Board members, company leaders, financial partners, and other key people.

This gathering allowed everyone to reflect on the Group’s past, recognize those who helped build the company, and celebrate a legacy that continues through generations, countries, and communities.

A big part of the evening was about the Vandebeeck family. Their vision was crucial in starting SIAT. The company was set up in Belgium in 1991 under Pierre Vandebeeck. That same year, they bought Presco in Nigeria. The Group later expanded by acquiring Ghana Oil Palm Development Company (GOPDC) in 1995.

Rasheed Sarumi, the Group Chief Executive Officer of Saroafrica International Limited and Chairman of Presco Plc, reflected on the importance of the event. He said, “We are gathered this evening not simply to mark an occasion, but to celebrate a milestone. For decades, this Group has grown across borders and generations through the vision of the founding family and the dedication of those who came before us and those who have carried that vision forward. Many of you in this room were part of building that story. Today is about saying thank you to those who built it, stayed, served, and to those who continue to carry it forward. We do not stand as something new, but as something continued.”

Marie Vandebeeck, speaking for the founding family, shared her thoughts: “When I think of the legacy of SIAT Group, I don’t first think of hectares and tons of palm oil. I think of people, because ultimately, this business was built over many years. Often, in places where building successful companies requires more than capital and ambition, this is the greatest achievement of SIAT. Above all, you need to believe in the future. This philosophy became the DNA of SIAT, and nowhere is it more visible than in Presco. What Presco became today did not happen overnight. It is the result of decades of persistence, investment and the role of exceptional Nigerian organisations. There was certainly risk and uncertainty; that’s part of the entrepreneurial journey. But there was also a fundamental conviction that it was possible to build a world-class agricultural business in Africa. I am proud of the many talented people who joined this company, stayed, developed and assumed great responsibilities.”

The event also looked to the future. Adewale Arikawe, Group Chief Executive Officer of SIAT Group, spoke about the role of current leaders in building on what previous generations have done. He said, “Our responsibility as a team is to take SIAT to the next level, to build something bigger, bolder and more impactful. This is not just a simple vision; it is a call to action. At SIAT, we are fully committed to being an integrated agriculture business, sustainably growing, processing and marketing agricultural resources to create value for our people and shareholders. The Group is growing, and with that growth comes a greater responsibility to our people, our shareholders and all our stakeholders. This is a journey, and our responsibility is to keep building on what has been established, keep growing and make SIAT bigger and stronger.”

Many leaders and stakeholders attended the gathering. They have all played a part in SIAT’s growth. Notable attendees included Chief Atedo Peterside, a former Board member of Presco Plc; Reji George, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Presco Plc; and Felix Nwabuko, former Group Chief Executive Officer of SIAT NV and Institutional Adviser of Presco Plc.

Today, SIAT runs agricultural businesses across Africa. They handle plantation development, cultivation, processing, and other activities. In Nigeria and Ghana, the Group employs over 17,000 people and supports thousands of smallholder farmers and rural communities.