Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening South–South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC), describing it as a vital platform for transforming agrifood systems and promoting sustainable development.
Speaking at a dialogue on SSTC held in Italy, Kyari explained that the initiative would give developing nations greater influence in global economic discussions while fostering a fairer international system.
He noted that the framework aims to harness shared expertise, innovation, and resources among partner countries to drive agricultural growth and resilience.
According to a statement from the ministry’s Head of Information, Ezeaja Ikemefuna, the minister emphasised that Nigeria views SSTC as a central component of its agricultural transformation agenda.
He added that cooperation among developing countries encourages inclusive growth, mutual learning, and effective knowledge exchange.
Kyari stressed that genuine collaboration must be founded on respect, national ownership, and measurable outcomes, describing SSTC as a practical and cost-efficient pathway toward achieving food security and shared prosperity.
Highlighting Nigeria’s progress under various SSTC partnerships, the minister cited ongoing collaborations with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and China, which have advanced technology transfer, farmer capacity-building, aquaculture, and the creation of Regional Multi-Service Extension Centres.
He said the experiences from partnerships with countries such as China and Brazil demonstrate that nations in the Global South possess the innovation and expertise to address their own challenges through unity and cooperation.
Outlining Nigeria’s next steps, Kyari revealed plans to embed SSTC programmes into national agricultural policies, in line with the National Agrifood Systems Transformation Agenda.
He also mentioned efforts to establish flexible financing options and blended funding models to scale up projects and partnerships. Other priorities include collaboration on climate-smart agriculture, irrigation systems, mechanisation, and digital innovations aimed at improving productivity and resilience.
FAO Director-General, Dr. Qu Dongyu, commended Nigeria and other member states for their ongoing efforts to build inclusive and sustainable agrifood systems.
He urged participating countries to strengthen institutional structures and increase targeted investments to ensure that the next phase of South–South Cooperation achieves lasting impact.
