The Executive Secretary of the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF), Mohamed Abu Ibrahim, has called on Nigerians to seize the opportunities offered by the federal government to enhance food sufficiency and security.
Speaking with journalists after delivering a lecture at the Federal University of Agriculture in Abeokuta, Ibrahim highlighted the pivotal role agriculture plays in ensuring the nation’s food security and called for immediate action to boost primary production in the sector.
Speaking on the government’s initiatives, Ibrahim emphasized that the federal government, through the NADF, is focused on encouraging primary production as a short-term goal to achieve food security.
He stressed, “Without primary production, we may not be able to attain food security. On the other hand, with the resources that this nation has, we should be speaking about food sovereignty, not even food security.”
Ibrahim further elaborated on the mandate of the NADF, stating that the organization serves as an on-lender, meaning that it does not directly offer loans but instead collaborates with processors and other stakeholders in the food production chain.
The NADF has developed several products aimed at supporting food crop processing, which it views as central to the growth of the agricultural sector.
“We do not give direct loans, so all the products that we have on the on-lending products have some sort of a processor or processing of our food crops as the anchor in the middle of it,” he explained.
The NADF Executive Secretary also shared that the agency is particularly focused on funding the seed sector, an essential part of agricultural productivity.
He outlined the successful collaboration between the NADF, the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), the National Seed Council, and six research institutes tasked with improving six priority crops.
“We’ve started, as I mentioned in my lecture, with the collaboration we’ve done with the ARCN and the National Seed Council and six research institutes that have a mandate on six priority crops,” Ibrahim said.
In addition to highlighting government efforts, Ibrahim addressed the numerous challenges confronting the agricultural sector in Nigeria, acknowledging that there is still much work to be done.
However, he assured that the government is ready to continue supporting efforts to improve productivity and achieve food security while also driving inclusive socio-economic development in the country.
Ibrahim also called on Nigerian youth to embrace agriculture, urging them to see it not as an outdated profession but as a vibrant and essential sector for the future of the nation.
“First of all, the youth need to see agriculture as a beacon of hope for our country,” he said.
“They need to see that agriculture is not outdated as it’s usually thought of and that agriculture has a future for not only them but for the country in general.”
He also emphasized that the path to success in agriculture is not just through academic learning but also through acquiring life skills that will help young people navigate the practical aspects of the sector.
“It’s not just about learning, going through the university system. It’s about the academic learnings and also the life learnings,” Ibrahim added.
Experts in the agricultural sector also contributed to the conversation, calling for a renewed mindset among Nigerians and a determination to succeed.
They emphasized the importance of utilizing available resources, embracing innovation, and adopting technology to support the sector’s growth.
