The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Nigeria’s efforts to build an inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood system through the implementation of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Strategic Action Plan (2026–2035).
The commitment was reiterated during the National Stakeholder Consultation on the Nigeria CAADP Strategic Action Plan held in Abuja where stakeholders gathered to advance the country’s implementation framework for the Kampala CAADP Declaration.
Speaking at the event the Nigeria Country Director of International Fund for Agricultural Development, Dede Ekoue commended the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security for convening the consultation and demonstrating leadership in the development of Nigeria’s national implementation strategy.
Delivering a goodwill message on behalf of the Country Director IFAD Programme Officer Isaac Mensah stated that IFAD remains strongly committed to the Kampala CAADP Declaration which places farmers at the centre of efforts to build inclusive and resilient agrifood systems across Africa.
She congratulated the Federal Government on the progress made in developing Nigeria’s Strategic Action Plan for implementing the Kampala Declaration which was adopted by African Heads of State and Government during an extraordinary summit held in Kampala in January 2025.
According to Ekoue the consultative process leading to the development of the strategic plan reflects Nigeria’s commitment to inclusive participation, stakeholder engagement and evidence-based policy formulation.
She disclosed that during the continental consultations preceding the Kampala Declaration the Federal Government and IFAD worked together to ensure the active participation of farmers, women and youth agripreneurs in key regional and continental engagements held in Addis Ababa, Dakar and Kampala.
“We highly appreciate the consultative process put in place today by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to gather inputs from stakeholders to enrich the development of the Nigeria Strategic CAADP Action Plan” she stated.
Ekoue noted that the proposed strategic action plan aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda the National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy (NATIP). and the Sustainable Development Goals describing it as a major step toward agricultural modernisation, food systems transformation and resilience building.
She also acknowledged the contributions of several development partners and technical institutions involved in the process including the African Development Bank, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa, World Bank, Food and Agriculture Organization and International Food Policy Research Institute.
According to her IFAD coordinated several technical committee meetings under the leadership of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security contributing significantly to the development of the Nigeria Strategic Action Plan and the successful organisation of the stakeholder consultation.
She urged policymakers and stakeholders to ensure that the interests and priorities of farmers women and youth agripreneurs remain central to the design and implementation of the Nigeria Strategic Action Plan for 2026–2035.
Reaffirming IFAD’s long-term commitment to Nigeria’s agricultural transformation agend Ekoue disclosed that the organisation currently manages a portfolio exceeding one billion dollars in the country and remains prepared to scale up investments, strengthen resilience, promote innovation and support national development priorities.
“Going forward IFAD remains fully committed to supporting the successful development and implementation of the Nigeria Strategic Action Plan (2026–2035)” she said.
She added that IFAD would continue to provide technical support throughout the implementation process while leveraging contributions from Nigerian farmers who participated in the development of the Kampala Declaration.
Ekoue concluded by commending the Federal Government through the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security for positioning Nigeria among the leading African countries making substantial progress in the domestication and implementation planning of the Kampala CAADP Declaration.
Stakeholders at the consultation noted that successful implementation of the Strategic Action Plan could accelerate agricultural productivity, strengthen food security, improve rural livelihoods, promote climate resilience and advance Nigeria’s broader economic development objectives over the next decade.
