By Abubakar Yunusa
The inaugural Nigeria Agribusiness Group (NABG) Presidential Roundtable on Agribusiness convened in the nation’s capital earlier this month.
The high-profile event brought together government officials, private sector leaders, development partners, and farmer representatives to address the critical challenges and untapped opportunities within the sector.
Held in Abuja, the roundtable served as a platform for candid discussions, with a central theme resonating throughout: the future of Nigeria’s economy hinges on unlocking the full potential of its agribusiness sector.
Amid rising food insecurity, a growing population, and economic diversification efforts, the gathering underscored the urgency of transforming agriculture into a competitive, sustainable industry.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to this vision.
“We are dedicated to turning Nigeria’s agricultural sector into a globally competitive agribusiness hub,” Kyari said, highlighting policies aimed at boosting.
The conversations focus on longstanding structural barriers – from limited access to finance and infrastructure gaps, to the growing threats of climate change and insecurity, which continue to stifle productivity and investment.
However, what emerged from the discussions was a shared recognition of agriculture’s potential to drive inclusive economic growth, create jobs for Nigeria’s youth, and improve national food security if the right policies, investments, and partnerships are implemented.
Among the panelists, Rufus Idris, Country Director for the AGRA in Nigeria, called for a shift from fragmented interventions to coordinated, system-based approaches to agricultural transformation.
Idris underscored AGRA’s commitment to partnership-driven change, where local institutions, private sector actors, and development partners work together to build resilient food systems that respond to the realities of Nigeria’s smallholder farmers and agribusinesses.
Drawing from AGRA’s experience across the continent, Idris emphasized the importance of aligning investments with national agricultural strategies and ensuring that programs are not only technically sound but also economically viable and socially inclusive, He positioned AGRA not just as a funding agency, but as a knowledge partner and platform builder, helping to scale innovations, aggregate learnings, and create spaces where local voices shape national and regional solutions.
A critical aspect of Idris’ intervention was the need to empower Nigeria’s smallholder farmers and agribusinesses with the tools, technologies, and market access they need to succeed.
He highlighted AGRA’s community-based advisory model, which leverages private-sector extension services to deliver practical, climate-smart solutions to farmers in ways that are both cost-effective and scalable. By putting farmers and local agribusinesses at the center, AGRA’s approach ensures that solutions are not imposed from above but rather co-created with those who understand the challenges firsthand.
This farmer-first approach aligns directly with Nigeria’s ambition to boost domestic food production, strengthen value chains, and reduce dependence on food imports.
Idris also spoke to the evolving risks facing Nigeria’s agricultural sector, including climate volatility, conflict, and fluctuating policy environments. To navigate these challenges, AGRA supports adaptative programming, where flexibility and constant learning from the field are integrated into program design.
This resilience-focused approach recognizes that no single intervention can deliver transformation on its own, but that well-coordinated, locally driven efforts can create durable change.
In a powerful call to action, Idris urged NABG to step fully into its role as a convener and champion of Nigeria’s agricultural transformation agenda. By bringing together diverse voices—from smallholder farmers and agripreneurs to policymakers, financiers, and agritech innovators—NABG has the potential to align action, amplify local solutions, and foster shared accountability for results.
This multi-stakeholder approach, which ensures that youth, women, and small businesses have a seat at the table, is essential for ensuring that Nigeria’s agricultural transformation delivers inclusive economic growth, climate resilience, and food security for all.
The NABG Presidential Roundtable was more than a policy discussion; it was a catalyst for action. With the combined strength of government leadership, private sector investment, and development partner support, Nigeria can unlock the full economic potential of its agrifood sector.
For AGRA, the path forward is clear: facilitate country-led solutions, amplify local leadership, and ensure that smallholder farmers and agripreneurs have access to the knowledge, technology, finance, and markets they need to thrive. By doing so, AGRA helps ensure that Nigeria’s agricultural transformation is built on the ingenuity, resilience, and ambition of Nigerians themselves.
As Nigeria works to build a more resilient, inclusive, and competitive agricultural sector, the outcomes of the NABG Roundtable serve as both a roadmap and a rallying cry.
Through collaborative action, evidence-driven policy, and a commitment to empowering the next generation of agripreneurs, Nigeria’s agricultural sector can become a powerful engine of economic growth, job creation, and food security—not just for today, but for generations to come.
