The Women Farmers Advancement Network (WOFAN), in collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation and UN-POLAC, including traditional rulers, has called for peacebuilding initiatives to be integrated into climate-smart agriculture policies as a means to enhance food security and economic growth in Nigeria.
The stakeholders also agreed that peacebuilding must be at the heart of agricultural policy to ensure a resilient and thriving farming sector. They urged the government to engage traditional leaders, legislative bodies and media organisations in developing actionable solutions backed by legal frameworks to harmonise existing peace and climate initiatives.
Speaking at the National Dialogue on the Promotion of Peacebuilding and Climate-Smart Agriculture in Abuja yesterday, WOFAN Country Director Dr. Salamatu Garba emphasised the urgent need to address insurgency-related and climate-induced conflicts that threaten food production and national stability.
Dr Garba stressed that sustainable job creation depends on a secure and enabling environment, calling on policymakers and traditional leaders to resolve conflicts between farmers and improve governance structures.
She particularly highlighted the critical role of media in shaping narratives that can either fuel or de-escalate conflicts and called for improved welfare for journalists covering sensitive issues.
She said, “We are looking at cross-cutting issues related to peacebuilding and how that can promote peace, increase food security, and boost our national economy.
“Insecurity is not just about insurgency but also about climate-related conflicts; we must engage the media constructively to help drive positive change and de-escalate tensions.
“We must move beyond discussions and implement strategies ensuring peace and food security”.
WOFAN’s Technical Advisory Board Chair, Professor Sani Miko, stressed that agriculture cannot thrive without peace.
He lamented the rising insecurity that has significantly hindered farming activities and warned that without stability, Nigeria’s agricultural sector remains at risk.
On his part, Etsu of Kwali, Luka Ayedu, provided a broader economic perspective, highlighting agriculture’s substantial contribution of 25.75% to Nigeria’s employment sector.
He called for collaborative efforts among stakeholders to safeguard and grow this vital industry.
Adding an international perspective, United Nations-POLAC DCP II and Minister of Environment, State of Birland, Prof. Joseph Legend Mfon, stressed the need for a firm policy and legal framework to support Nigeria’s transition toward climate-smart agricultural practices.
“Peacebuilding is a global consensus requiring global participation; we must integrate peace initiatives into agricultural policies to drive sustainable development”, Mfon said.
Professor Sadiq Isah Radda, a professor of Sociology at Bayero University Kano, elaborated on how farmers can maximize yields while managing environmental impacts.
The professor called for practical, implementable blueprints that align agricultural production with national security efforts.
“We can invest in farming equipment and capacity building, but if security challenges persist, food security will remain unattainable,” Radda warned.
The Mastercard Foundation, through its WOFAN ICON 2 project, aims to support 675,000 farmers in Nigeria under a five-year partnership.
They aim to create one million jobs in Nigeria as part of an initiative to generate 10 million jobs across Africa.
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