As the 2025 Africa Agriculture Dialogue (AAD) Agenda-setting Session (ASS) kicks off in Abuja, dignitaries and stakeholders expressed strong optimism about the Dialogue’s potential to reshape Africa’s agricultural future. The remarks came during a cocktail reception held on Monday evening ahead of the main event.
The Honourable Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Miaha, speaking during an interview backend with AgroNigeria, described the Dialogue as a landmark engagement that will unlock Africa’s financial and policy potential for agricultural transformation.
He said hosting the event in Nigeria is a major honour and an opportunity to address funding gaps and harmonise policies that drive investment across the continent.
According to him, the Dialogue aims to mobilise development banks and investors to make Africa a global agricultural investment hub. “We are building a foundation to feed Africa using African land, African resources, and by Africans,” he stated, adding that youth engagement remains central to achieving the continent’s agricultural transformation.
Speaking on the award presented to the President, the Minister noted that no one was more deserving, highlighting the administration’s reforms — including the creation of the Ministry of Livestock Development, the recapitalisation of the Bank of Agriculture, and the state of emergency on food security.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Livestock Development, Idris Ajibola Ajimobi, said AAD 2025 seeks to unlock African financial and technical resources to strengthen the livestock and agricultural sectors.
He noted that significant funding exists globally for Africa’s agriculture, but access remains limited due to weak networks and low awareness. “AAD provides a platform for African countries to connect, share information, and access these opportunities,” he said.
Also speaking, Alhaji Sheriff Balogun, President of the Federation of Commodity Associations of Nigeria (FACAN), described AAD 2025 as a timely intervention that will bridge gaps between financial institutions and the agricultural sector.
He called for sustained youth engagement, noting that modern farming is profitable, innovative, and essential for economic growth.
“Farming is not archaic — it is fashionable and profitable,” he said, urging the inclusion of agriculture-focused curricula in schools and easier access to land for young people. “Once that is done, the sky will be the beginning, not the limit.”
