Stakeholders in Nigeria’s agricultural sector have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening food security, sovereignty, and sustainability during the opening of the 47th National Council on Agriculture and Food Security (NCAFS) in Kaduna yesterday.
The meeting, themed “Food Sovereignty and Food Security in an Era of Renewed Hope”, brought together agricultural commissioners from all 36 states, development partners, donor agencies, and experts to deliberate on strategies aimed at transforming Nigeria’s agricultural landscape.
Dr. Marcus O. Ogunbiyi, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, officially opened the technical session, emphasising the council’s vital role as a platform for federal and state governments to exchange ideas and craft practical solutions to drive sectoral growth.
According to him, “This session marks the beginning of the core work of the Council—where ideas are tested, experiences shared, and practical solutions forged for the advancement of our agricultural and food systems. The theme challenges us to strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to produce the food we consume, reduce external dependency, and ensure that every household has access to safe, nutritious food,” Dr. Ogunbiyi stated.
He praised the collaboration between state delegates and development partners, urging participants to focus on identifying successful initiatives, addressing emerging challenges, and crafting a blueprint for agricultural transformation.
Mr. Azubuike Nwokoye, representing ActionAid Nigeria in his goodwill message called for urgent action to tackle escalating hunger and improve access to agricultural credit, insurance, and extension services, particularly for smallholder women farmers.
“Less than 23 per cent of women farmers currently have access to government credit, while only 4.77 per cent benefit from agricultural insurance. Post-harvest losses remain significant, and women’s land ownership remains limited to just 30 per cent. We must confront these challenges head-on and come up with actionable solutions moving forward,” Mr Nwokoye said.
Also speaking, Mr. Tanimu Ibrahim, Director of Planning and Policy Coordination at the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, urged delegates to remain committed to multi-sectoral food security initiatives and replicate successful agribusiness models across states.
The 4-day event is expected to produce actionable resolutions and policy recommendations, which will be presented at the ministerial session later in the week.
