Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening agricultural financing, rural development and food sovereignty through deeper collaboration with the International Fund for Agricultural Development during the landmark Africa Forward Summit.
Speaking at the sidelines of the summit, Nigerian officials held a high-level bilateral meeting with the President of IFAD, Dr. Alvaro Lario, alongside IFAD’s West and Central Africa Regional Director, Dr. Bernard Hien, to discuss strategies aimed at transforming the country’s agricultural sector and improving food systems across the continent.
The meeting focused on expanding collaboration between Nigeria and IFAD in key areas including sustainable agricultural development, rural economic growth, climate resilience and inclusive agrifood systems capable of supporting millions of smallholder farmers.
Both parties emphasized the urgent need to strengthen investments in agriculture as African nations continue to confront rising food insecurity, climate change challenges and increasing pressure on food production systems.
Discussions also highlighted the importance of empowering rural communities through access to financing, innovation, infrastructure and modern farming technologies.
During the engagement, stakeholders stressed the significance of a strong IFAD 14th Replenishment, describing it as a major vehicle for scaling investments that would support climate-smart agriculture, resilient infrastructure development and technological advancement for smallholder farmers across Africa.
The officials noted that increased funding under the replenishment framework would help boost agricultural productivity, enhance rural livelihoods and support long-term food sovereignty efforts across developing economies.
Nigeria further reiterated its commitment to aligning national agricultural priorities with global financing frameworks and international development partnerships to ensure sustainable food security and inclusive economic growth.
The renewed partnership is expected to strengthen ongoing efforts aimed at improving productivity within Nigeria’s agricultural value chains while creating more economic opportunities for farmers, agribusiness operators and rural communities nationwide.
