By Abdulmalik Adetola
The Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, OFR, has described his administration as one committed to agricultural transformation, stressing that adequate financing remains central to modernizing farming, empowering youths, and ensuring food security across Africa.
Governor Otti, represented by Hon. Frank Chinaza at the Africa Agriculture Dialogue 2025, addressed the need for stronger public-private partnerships and regional collaboration to drive inclusive agricultural growth.
Commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his administration’s renewed push toward food sufficiency and sectoral reforms, Chinaza described the dialogue as “timely and essential,” noting that despite its vast potential, agriculture in Africa continues to face critical funding constraints.
“Without adequate finance, we cannot modernize farming, empower our youths, or achieve food security. A country cannot truly be independent when it cannot feed itself,” he stated.
Highlighting the Otti administration’s approach, Chinaza said Abia State is repositioning agriculture as a catalyst for inclusive economic growth in alignment with the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“We are creating an environment where agriculture thrives through innovation, investment, and integrity,” he explained, while commending federal efforts to restructure the Ministry of Agriculture and prioritize funding for food production.
He further revealed that the state is partnering with the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA), development agencies, and private investors to open more arable land, expand agribusiness clusters, and attract finance to rural communities.
“Our goal is to move farmers from subsistence to profitable agribusiness. By empowering women and youths with access to finance and digital tools, we can make agriculture sustainable and rewarding,” Chinaza said.
He concluded with a call for deeper regional cooperation and stronger financial commitment to secure the continent’s agricultural future.
“Agriculture must no longer be seen as a survival venture but as a sustainable business. When we finance its future, Africa will feed itself and the world,” he affirmed.
