Nigeria to Host Africa Agriculture Dialogue Agenda-Setting Session to Shape Continental Narratives Ahead of 2025 World Food Prize

Nigeria will host the Agenda-Setting Session of the 2025 Africa Agriculture Dialogue (AAD-ASS) on October 7–8, 2025, ahead of the prestigious World Food Prize events in Iowa, USA.

This milestone marks the first time the agenda-setting session is being held on African soil, a demonstration of the continent’s growing influence in shaping global agricultural priorities. Nigeria’s choice as host of the AAD-ASS 2025 is in recognition of its bold policy interventions and sweeping reforms under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Policy Milestones Recognized

At a press briefing on Friday, Mr. Richard-Mark Mbaram, Special Adviser to the Minister of Livestock Development, outlined the policy imperatives that justifies the recognition:

• State of Emergency in Agriculture and Food Security – fast-tracking reforms, including the introduction of heat-tolerant wheat varieties to boost local production.

• Creation of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development – with a view to resolving farmer-herder conflicts and implementing the National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy (NL-GAS).

• $1 Billion Recapitalization of the Bank of Agriculture (BOA) – reviving its role as a catalyst for affordable agricultural finance and restoring investor confidence.

Building Global Momentum Ahead of the World Food Prize

The AAD-ASS will include high-level engagements at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, presenting Africa’s agricultural priorities and investment opportunities to the international community.

“The goal,” Mbaram emphasized, “is to shift the global perception of African agriculture from high-risk to high-opportunity, attracting commitments that drive transformation across the continent.”

Demonstrated Progress and Ongoing Programs

Nigeria’s agricultural drive has already begun yielding results:

• The NAGS-AP Program, backed by a $134M AfDB facility, expanded wheat production, with 50,000 hectares in Jigawa generating $160M in value from a single state, and a single crop.

• Strategic partnerships with the World Bank, IFAD, IsDB, AFREXIM, JICA, and IsDB are accelerating crop and livestock value chains productivity – VCDP, SAPZ, NAGS-AP, ATASP2, L-PRES etc.

• Blended finance and PPPs are addressing infrastructural gaps in power, storage, irrigation, and rural roads.

• A national insurance consortium is improving risk management and resilience for farmers – NAIC, Leadway, REX, YOA Brokers.

International Engagement and Investment Potential

Mbaram harped on the surging international interest in Nigeria:

• The United States, China, other European and South American countries as well as multilateral institutions are deepening agricultural ties with Nigeria.

• China is especially committed to financing Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZs), with potential multi-billion-dollar infrastructure investments.

Livestock Development Drive

Speaking on the government’s livestock agenda, Hon. Idris Ajimobi, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Livestock Development, highlighted efforts to unlock the sector’s vast potential:

• Revitalization of 417 grazing reserves covering over 2M hectares to boost beef and dairy productivity.

• Agreements with Brazil to establish 774 beef processing plants nationwide, improving quality and enabling Nigeria to meet export standards.

• Ongoing negotiations with Saudi Arabia, which has expressed interest in importing over 2M tonnes of Nigerian red meat.

Ajimobi stressed that while government will not directly run livestock enterprises, it is creating the enabling environment for private-sector investment and innovation.

About the Africa Agriculture Dialogue (AAD)

The Africa Agriculture Dialogue is a premier continental platform aligning Africa’s agricultural strategies with global development priorities. Convened annually as part of the set of events World Food Prize, it has evolved as a bridge between African agricultural stakeholders and international investment partners, amplifying the continent’s voice in shaping the future of food and nutrition security.