High-Level Dialogue Gathers Stakeholders to Transform Nigeria’s Agricultural Landscape
Key stakeholders from government, research institutions, development partners, and the private sector convened in Abuja to engage in a pivotal policy dialogue aimed at promoting transformation within Nigeria’s agriculture and food systems. This meeting focused on forging stronger partnerships, leveraging evidence-based policymaking, and encouraging collaborative strategies to drive meaningful change.
Collaborative Efforts for Agricultural Advancement
The event, titled ‘Scaling Up Partnerships for Transformative Impact,’ was orchestrated by the International Food Policy Research Institute, the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, and various civil society partners through the Collaborative Policy Innovation Platform. This timely gathering comes as Nigeria advances crucial frameworks, such as the National Agricultural Technology Innovation Policy (NATIP) 2022-2027 and the National Development Plan (2021-2025), alongside preparations for the domestication of the CAADP Kampala Declaration 2026-2035. These initiatives aim to position agriculture as a pivotal sector for inclusive economic growth, job creation, climate resilience, and enhanced food security.
Bridging Research and Implementation Challenges
Participants at the dialogue recognized the wealth of available policy-relevant research; however, they also noted the ongoing challenges of translating this evidence into effective policy implementation. The forum served as a dynamic platform to bridge this gap, fostering collaboration, shared learning, and the co-creation of solutions aligned with national priorities.
Government Officials Highlight Need for Evidence-Based Policies
In a goodwill address, Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture, Senator Abubakar Musa, underscored the significance of utilizing evidence in the formation of effective agricultural policies. He called for greater collaboration between development partners and the private sector. Musa emphasized that the transformation of Nigeria’s agricultural landscape must yield immediate results and that empowering youth and women in the sector is essential for success.
Gender Inclusion as a Catalyst for Change
Minister of Women’s Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman Ibrahim, further stressed the critical role of gender inclusion and women’s economic empowerment in reshaping Nigeria’s food system. She praised the initiative as an important venue for addressing food security, market systems, and gender equality. Sulaiman Ibrahim highlighted the need for comprehensive partnerships to strengthen market assessments and emphasized that policies must evolve into actionable platforms that support transformative changes in agricultural value chains.
A Vision for Inclusive Policy Development
Aline Mugisho, CGIAR Nigeria Parliamentary Affairs Officer, provided insight into the initiative’s broader vision. She explained that the Policy Innovation Hub aims to redefine policy development by making it more inclusive, thereby responding effectively to real-world needs. Mugisho noted the importance of integrating inputs from grassroots stakeholders to cultivate a more comprehensive understanding of challenges faced by farmers and other stakeholders.
Commitment to Long-term Engagement and Impact
Oliver Kirui, IFPRI Country Program Leader for Nigeria, expressed satisfaction with the diverse range of participants and the dialogue’s outcomes, deeming it both timely and impactful. The event gathered representatives from various government ministries and international organizations, underscoring the urgency for enhanced coordination among stakeholders as they align priorities to support agricultural transformation efforts. Kirui outlined that moving forward, the focus would be on continuity and real-world applicability of policies, ensuring they generate meaningful impacts on Nigeria’s agricultural landscape.
The collaborative dialogue emphasized a unified commitment among stakeholders to shift toward a more coordinated, evidence-based approach, ensuring that agricultural policies are not only thoughtfully designed but effectively implemented to achieve tangible outcomes across Nigeria’s agri-food systems.
