The Nigerian Government, United Nations family, officials of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) programme, and smallholder farmers have commended the outgoing Country Director of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) in Nigeria, Dede Ekoue, for her contributions to agricultural development and rural livelihoods during her nearly four-year tenure.
Ekoue is leaving Nigeria to take up a new assignment in Rwanda.
The tributes poured in at a send-forth ceremony held in her honour at the IFAD Country Office in Abuja on Tuesday, September 2, 2026, where stakeholders reflected on her leadership in strengthening smallholder agriculture, empowering vulnerable groups and deepening partnerships across Nigeria’s food system.
Representing the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Marcus Olaniyi Ogunbiyi, described Ekoue as a dedicated partner who consistently followed up on issues and worked closely with government officials. He expressed appreciation for her contributions and for the support and approvals she facilitated for agricultural development programmes, noting that Nigeria, with its more than 500 ethnic groups, had prepared her to navigate complex environments in her new posting.
The UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Malik Fall, said Ekoue’s contribution extended beyond IFAD’s projects, particularly touching the lives of women farmers, youths and other vulnerable groups. He noted that IFAD had expanded its presence and partnerships in Nigeria under her watch, while strengthening resilience among farmers and connecting institutions. Fall said Ekoue would be remembered for her commitment, personality, sense of humour and ability to build lasting relationships. “On behalf of the UN family, this is not a goodbye; it is a way of saying that we will miss you,” he said.
Also speaking, the National Project Coordinator of SAPZ, Dr Kabir Yusuf, described Ekoue as not only a development partner but also a mother and teacher to members of her team. He said she came into a complex development environment but was able to understand it and establish systems of work that benefited smallholder families and the country at large, commending her knowledge, dedication, perseverance and ability to inspire her team to believe they could achieve more. Yusuf said her departure was a bittersweet moment for the SAPZ team, expressing hope that her new assignment in Rwanda would afford her some rest while wishing her continued success.
Speaking on behalf of rural women and smallholder farmers, a representative, Ejim Lovelyn, said Ekoue’s leadership had brought development interventions closer to farming communities, noting that her frequent visits to rural areas, including twice to her own community and organisation, demonstrated a genuine commitment to understanding the realities of beneficiaries. She said the engagements enabled farmers to directly showcase the impact of IFAD-supported interventions and explain how resources were being deployed.
“You have visited most of our communities. You visited my community twice, and you also visited my organisation twice. I know that if you had not been here with us, perhaps we would not have achieved as much as we did,” Ejim said.
She commended Ekoue for insisting on visiting communities in the hinterlands rather than restricting project activities to urban centres, saying the approach gave rural farmers the opportunity to contribute directly to development conversations. Ejim also credited Ekoue with helping project the image and capabilities of Nigerian rural women farmers on international platforms, recalling how the IFAD boss facilitated their participation in activities in Rome, where their presentation made a strong impression. She described Ekoue’s personal warmth, including her willingness to eat local food during community visits, as evidence of her genuine engagement with rural people, and urged her to continue supporting smallholder farmers in Rwanda.
Ekoue, in her remarks, said her tenure had been marked by collective efforts with federal and state governments, farmers’ organisations, development partners and the private sector to improve the livelihoods of women, youths and people living with disabilities. She noted that IFAD-supported programmes had contributed to increased incomes, value addition, job creation and economic empowerment across nine states, even as she called for greater investment in farmers, technology, digital solutions and private-sector partnerships to scale up the gains recorded.
Describing smallholder farmers as the “game changer for any agricultural community,” Ekoue said: “Our small project might not be able to change Nigeria, but you see these farmers, they would change Nigeria’s food sector, making it a better place.” She thanked the Federal Government, farmers, the UN family, development partners, FAO, private sector actors and IFAD staff, describing the achievements as a collective effort. “It’s a win for IFAD. I would really have Nigeria in my heart for the longest. Nigeria is home for all,” she said.
