Monday

The Federal Government has unveiled the National Agricultural Mechanization Policy and the National Agricultural Mechanization Investment Strategy, while announcing plans to establish a mega tractor assembly plant with capacity to produce between 2,000 and 4,000 units annually in a major push to anchor national food sovereignty.

Speaking at the High-Level National Policy Dialogue on Agricultural Mechanization held in Abuja, on Wednesday 12th August, 2026, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari stated that the twin instruments provide the framework to move Nigeria “from agricultural potential to agricultural powerhouse; from mechanization deficit to mechanization leadership; and from food vulnerability to food sovereignty.”

“It takes more than land, more than good intentions to produce efficiently, competitively and sustainably to build our food systems. This is why today’s National Policy Dialogue is so important,” the Minister stated.

Senator Kyari said mechanization is not synonymous with tractors alone, but a full ecosystem covering land preparation, planting, irrigation, crop protection, harvesting, processing, storage, logistics, precision agriculture, digital technologies, financing, insurance, maintenance and after-sales services.

“Our ambition, therefore, must be larger than equipment ownership.

We must build a Mechanization-as-a-Service economy in which technology reaches the farmer when and where it is needed, at a cost that is commercially viable and sustainably financed.

This is the direction in which Government is moving,” he said.

According to him, under the Renewed Hope National Agricultural Mechanization Programme (RH-NAMP), the Federal Government has embarked on the procurement and ongoing deployment of 2,000 tractors and more than 9,000 assorted implements and spare parts — described as the largest single agricultural mechanization programme ever undertaken in Africa.

The Minister noted that the significance of the intervention lies not in the number of machines, but in whether they become productive economic assets that are maintained, financed, utilized and accessible to farmers.

He disclosed that the plant is aimed at reducing import dependence, localize production, create jobs, and build a sustainable mechanization economy.

Senator Kyari called on investors, youth and women to take ownership of the mechanization economy.

“Nigeria is open for investment in agricultural mechanization. We are not seeking capital merely to purchase machines. We are seeking partners to build an enduring agricultural technology and services ecosystem.”

“Agriculture is no longer a symbol of neglect. It has transitioned into a domain of enterprise, technology and wealth creation.

Our youths must not stand at the edge of the mechanization economy. They must own, operate, innovate and lead it,” he said.

The Minister cited Borno State as an example of state-level commitment, noting that His Excellency, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum_ has delivered 200 truckloads of fertilizer to farmers and unlocked7 more than a dozen solar-powered irrigation systems and sites to extend the farming season.

He also commended TracTrac MSL for training thousands of young Nigerians as mechanization service providers and deploying small-scale tractors to smallholder farmers.
“This is precisely the kind of private-sector enterprise that the Policy and the Investment Strategy are designed to multiply,” he added.

Sen. Kyari outlined a shared responsibility framework where the Federal Government will provide policy, standards and coordination, state governments will support with land access, infrastructure and implementation, the private sector will invest and deliver services, financial institutions will develop financing and risk-sharing instruments, while development partners and research institutions provide technical support.

He noted that the programme provides for the ratification of the National Agricultural Mechanization Policy and the inauguration of its Implementation Taskforce, marking the beginning of implementation.

In his remarks, the Executive Governor of Borno State, Prof Babagana Zulum lauded the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s in the agriculture sector which is geared towards achieving food sovereignty and economic growth.

Prof Zulum added that the Mechanization Programme of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security would revolutionize the agricultural ecosystem.

While setting the tone for the Dialogue, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sen Dr Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi stated that Mechanization intitavtie would ensure that Nigeria Farmers have better livelihoods and boost Food production.

In his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Marcus O. Ogunbiyi, FNSE, stated that Nigeria must be honest about the gaps that have held back agriculture for too long.

He noted that for years farmers have carried the burden of production with inadequate machinery, high levels of drudgery, limited access to appropriateu technologies and insufficient investment across the value chain.

He stressed that agricultural mechanization is no longer simply about tractors and implements. According to him, it is about food security, productivity, rural prosperity, youth employment, women’s economic empowerment, private-sector investment and national competitiveness.

Dr. Ogunbiyi added that machines alone will not transform agriculture, stating that “a tractor without an operator is an idle asset. A machine without maintenance is a depreciating investment. Equipment without finance cannot reach the farmer.”

He asserted that the objective is to build a functioning national mechanization ecosystem that connects machinery with finance, operators, maintenance, spare parts, digital systems, research, standards, farmers and markets. He emphasized that farmers must remain at the center of all interventions and that technology must be matched to terrain, machinery to farm size, and finance to cash flow.

The Permanent Secretary further described mechanization as a major investment opportunity extending beyond tractors to include machinery assembly and leasing, service provision, maintenance, spare-parts manufacturing, digital fleet management, operator training, irrigation, post-harvest technology and agro-processing.

He also acknowledged the invaluable contributions of development partners, particularly the Food and Agriculture Organization for their technical support in developing the policy frameworks. He extended appreciation to the National Centre for Agricultural Mechanization, the Institute for Agricultural Research, the Nigerian Institution of Agricultural Engineers, the Standards Organization of Nigeria and TracTrac Mechanization Services Limited whose expertise and insights were instrumental in shaping the documents.

In his opening remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of TracTrac MSL, Mr. Godson Ohuruogu, said the dialogue marked Nigeria’s shift “from decades of conversation about agricultural mechanization to a ratified national policy and an investment strategy to give that policy weight.”

Citing TracTrac’s experience, he noted that mechanization must reach the last mile. Through its operations and the ISSAM Project with the Mastercard Foundation, the company has reached over 500,000 farmers, catalysed over ₦2 billion in investment, trained more than 6,000 youth, women and persons with disabilities, created 3,000 jobs, and established 567 cooperatives.

Mr. Ohuruogu stressed that the policy must be judged “by what a farmer can feel in the field — a service that arrives on time, at a price they can afford,” and noted that the discussions would focus on financing, inclusion and technology. He added that ratification is not the finish line, but the starting line for implementation.

The Highlight of the event was the unveiling of the National Agricultural Mechanization Policy and National Agricultural Mechanization Investment Strategy by the Governor of Borno State.

The Federal Government has announced the operationalization of the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) during Nigeria’s Country Session at the 9th Africa Agricultural Science Week, 9AASW, in Abuja.

Speaking at the event on Wednesday 29th July, 2026, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, stated that NADF marks a strategic shift in agricultural financing and will bridge the gap between scientific discovery and commercial application.

Sen. Kyari stated that “a landmark achievement in this regard is the operationalization of the National Agricultural Development Fund. The Fund provides a more sustainable mechanism to support research, technology development, enterprise creation, value-chain modernization, and private-sector participation’’.

He revealed that ‘’under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, agriculture has been placed at the heart of Nigeria’s economic renewal and food security agenda.

The Minister pointed out that key areas of investment include digital agriculture, mechanization, climate-smart production systems, seed systems, Value Chain-Based Extension, livestock development, irrigation, value addition, and the marine and blue economy.

He noted that Nigeria, as Africa’s largest economy and one of its leading agricultural producers, recognizes that future food security depends not only on expanding cultivated land but on expanding knowledge.

He emphasized that “Agricultural research is therefore no longer viewed as a supporting function but as a strategic national investment that drives productivity, resilience, competitiveness, and long-term prosperity’’.

The Minister outlined five strategic priorities for the sector:
– Strengthening scientific excellence
– Accelerating digital transformation through AI, remote sensing, GIS, and data analytics
– Promoting commercialization and private-sector participation, including technology licensing, innovation incubation, and agritech enterprises
– Investing in human capital and youth participation
– Deepening partnerships with FARA, AU, AUDA-NEPAD, CGIAR Centers, ECOWAS, and the private sector

He said the Government is also strengthening digital advisory services to ensure research outputs reach farmers faster through stronger partnerships between researchers, extension professionals, and agribusinesses.

Kyari added that ‘’the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) and National Agricultural Research Institutes are being repositioned with investments in modern laboratories, digital data systems, scientific equipment, and institutional governance’’.

Looking ahead, Senator Kyari said Nigeria will target artificial intelligence, biotechnology, robotics, remote sensing, genomics, and digital technologies to build a globally competitive, digitally enabled, climate-smart, and commercially driven research system.

“The future belongs to nations that invest in knowledge as deliberately as they invest in infrastructure. Nigeria has made that choice. We choose science as the foundation of food security, innovation as the driver of prosperity, and partnership as the pathway to sustainable agricultural transformation,” he said.

The Minister also revealed that Nigeria aspires to become a regional Centre of excellence in agricultural research and innovation, and called on Africa to invest more boldly in its own scientists and institutions.

He stressed that “no nation can transform African agriculture alone. Nigeria therefore remains committed to working with FARA, the African Union, AUDA-NEPAD, CGIAR Centres, Regional Economic Communities, and all our partners to build a resilient and competitive African agrifood system,”.

“Change is here; let us sustain it, let us accelerate it, and let us build it together,” the Minister concluded.

In his welcome address, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, stated that “today is a special occasion for us because it provides an opportunity to showcase Nigeria’s agricultural journey while celebrating our shared African commitment to science, innovation and partnership in transforming our agri-food systems.”

“Your participation reflects a common belief that no nation can achieve food security, climate resilience and agricultural prosperity in isolation. The future of agriculture will be shaped by collaboration, by shared knowledge, and by our willingness to learn from one another,” he said.

Sen Abdullahi added that “Nigeria is proud to be home to one of Africa’s largest and most vibrant National Agricultural Research Systems, comprising sixteen National Agricultural Research Institutes and eighteen Federal Colleges of Agriculture, working in close collaboration with universities, development partners, the organized private sector and farming communities.”

“Our progress must contribute to Africa’s progress. The innovations we develop, the partnerships we nurture, and the policies we implement must strengthen the collective capacity of our continent to feed itself, create jobs for its youth, protect its natural resources, and compete successfully in the global agricultural economy,” he stated.

He noted that Nigeria Day featured keynote presentations, technology exhibitions, case studies, the Commissioners’ Fireside Chat, and the Youth Innovation Challenge.

“We are placing considerable emphasis on our young innovators. Across Africa, millions of talented young people are developing digital solutions, precision agriculture tools, biotechnology applications and agribusiness enterprises that are redefining what agriculture can become. By giving them visibility, we are investing in the next generation of African scientific leadership.” He said

He also urged delegates to participate actively, saying: “Visit the exhibitions, interact with our researchers and innovators, engage our Commissioners and institutional leaders. Ask questions, share your experiences, and let today’s conversations birth partnerships that will continue long after we leave Abuja.”

“It is in that spirit that Nigeria Day has been conceived, not as a showcase of perfection, but as a platform for dialogue, collaboration and collective progress,” Senator Abdullahi added

The highlight of the event was the recognition of Prof. Chiedozie Ngozi Egesi as one of 40 distinguished innovators recognized as the 2026 Top Agri-food Pioneers (TAP), a cohort announced during the 40th anniversary year of the prestigious World Food Prize Foundation.

The 2026 cohort comprises 40 outstanding individuals from 30 countries across six continents, ranging in age from 16 to 81. The honorees reflect the diversity of talent driving innovation in food and agriculture worldwide and are advancing solutions across the agri-food sector, demonstrating that impactful leadership can emerge from any region and at any stage of life.

Professor Egesi, the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike, Abia State, is widely regarded as one of Africa’s leading agricultural technology pioneers. A renowned cassava breeder, his career has been defined by transformative contributions to crop improvement, biotechnology, and seed systems across the continent.

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS) has unveiled a comprehensive 10-Year Agrifood System Strategy and Action Plan that would be submitted to the Federal Executive Council for approval as part of efforts to align Nigeria’s food security agenda with the African Union’s CAADP Kampala Declaration (2026–2035) as well as revolutionizing the agricultural ecosystem

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, made this known during the Agrifood System Working Group Meeting held in Abuja on Thursday 23rd July, 2026

Sen. Kyari revealed the directive that came from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, with a clear charge to move “beyond rhetoric, beyond pilot projects, and beyond fragmented interventions” and deliver a coherent, bankable, and implementable plan to transform Nigeria’s agrifood system, considers food security a national security imperative.

He said that “Governance is not merely one of six strategic objectives of the Kampala Declaration; it is the bedrock upon which all other pillars sustainable production, investment, food security, inclusivity, and resilience must stand,”

He noted that the Strategy was developed following extensive stakeholder consultations and validations across all six geopolitical zones and at the national level to ensure broad participation, inclusivity, and national ownership.

According to the Minister, Nigeria, as a dedicated Member State, is fully pledged to the Kampala Declaration adopted in Uganda in January 2025. Key targets include achieving a 2.45 per cent increase in agrifood output, tripling intra-African trade, reducing post-harvest losses by 50 per cent, mobilizing $100 billion in public and private investment, and reinvesting at least 15 per cent of agrifood GDP annually.

Sen. Kyari disclosed that the Strategy and Action Plan will be presented for adoption by the Working Group and subsequently forwarded to Federal Executive Council (FEC) for approval. This, he said, will ensure every Ministry, Department, and Agency aligns programmes and budgets with the unified vision.

Highlighting milestones under the Renewed Hope Agenda, the Minister highlighted that the administration has distributed over 10 million bags of fertiliser alongside a Guaranteed Price Model for 2 million smallholder farmers, adding that an additional 1.9 million bags of fertilizer have also been distributed to over one million farmers.

Other achievements include the distribution of over half a million bags of free fertilizer to over 120,000 farmers across 25 states and the FCT by NADF, also through its on-lending product has disbursed over 16 Billion to all value chains while also championing blended finance initiatives.

‘’Establishment of the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZs), government-enabled, private-sector-led areas that bring infrastructure directly to farming communities, enabling farmers to process raw produce into packaged goods’’.

‘’In addition, the Renewed Hope Agricultural Mechanization Programme has deployed 2,000 tractors and other equipment to modernize farming practices, while the distribution of one million improved hybrid cocoa seedlings is repositioning Nigeria’s cocoa industry for greater global competitiveness’’.

Sen. Kyari revealed that the impact of these interventions is already evident, with essential food commodities recording price reductions of up to 50 per cent nationwide.

To drive implementation, he said, the Agrifood System Working Group whose membership cuts across public and private sectors, development partners, academia, farmers’ associations, and civil society, will meet biannually to review progress and proffer solutions.

The Minister also revealed that a Community of Practice meeting for State Commissioners overseeing agrifood systems will hold in September 2026 to strengthen coordination and drive domestication at the sub-national level.

“I enjoin all stakeholders to embrace governance as our collective responsibility. Let us strengthen inter-ministerial coordination and ensure that accountability is not an afterthought but a guiding principle,” Sen. Kyari urged.

“The time to act is now. Let us demonstrate the political will, the governance capacity, and the collective resolve to transform our agrifood systems and deliver the Nigeria we want,” he concluded.

In his remarks, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, stated that there is a need to provide robust and accurate data system in the agricultural ecosystem.

He commended the Agrifood System Working Group as a practical pathway to strengthen productivity, nutrition, and market access, and extended appreciation to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for providing the enabling environment for the milestones being celebrated.

Speaking during the Ministerial Statements on Agrifood system Transformation, the Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Mukhtar Maiha stated that ‘’the successful implementation of this Strategy will require adequate financing, innovative funding mechanisms, strong public-private partnerships, active participation of State Governments, and sustained support from our development partners’’.

He added that ‘’ we must ensure that resources are deployed efficiently, transparently, and in a manner that delivers measurable results’’.

In a welcome address, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi, stated that ‘’the Kampala Declaration provides a clear framework for coordinated action across the agrifood system, promoting investment, resilience, policy coherence, and mutual accountability. Nigeria’s agrifood system remains central to our national development objectives. It supports livelihoods, fuels rural economies, and offers significant opportunities for job creation and inclusive growth’’.

Dr. Ogunbiyi pointed out that ‘’the setting up of the Agrifood System Working Group to strengthen governance mechanisms holistically, addressing these interconnected issues and proffering lasting solutions toward food security for our people. This is why a collaborative approach is not just an option; it is an absolute imperative. We need the ingenuity of our researchers and academia to provide cutting-edge solutions’.

In attendance were Ministers of Budget and Economic Planning, Women Affairs, Livestock Development, Youth Development, Water Resources & Sanitation, Developmental Partners, among others.

His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has unveiled an ambitious plan to transform the cocoa value chain through revitalizing local processing, industrialization, and value added initiatives as well as boost the economy.

The President who was represented by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari , made this known during the Cocoa Value Addition Summit 2026 , with the theme “From Bean to Brand: The Bean in My Hand, The Brand in Our Future,”, held in Abuja, recently.

President Bola Tinubu stated that the initiative would promote a sustainable cocoa economy that is the leading GDP contributor, through a resurgence in production and industrialization to trigger robust domestic consumption, farm gate prosperity, youth engagement and increased foreign exchange earnings from the export of consistently superior quality beans and products.

Tinubu pointed out that ‘’ the Nigeria is shifting from exporting raw cocoa to processing it domestically, to create jobs, attract investments and earn more foreign exchange from cocoa sub sector’’.
He revealed that ‘’Africa produces about 70 per cent of the world’s cocoa, the continent earns only a tiny fraction of the over $130bn global chocolate industry because most processing, branding and manufacturing take place overseas’’.

He stated that “Seven of every ten cocoa pods on this earth ripen under the African sun. They are grown by African hands on African soil with African knowledge passed down through generations, and yet of a global chocolate economy now valued at well over $130bn and by some recent estimates approaching $165bn’’.

To this end , the President said that ‘’ We will grind our beans at home, we will press our butter at home, we will make our chocolate at home, brand it at home and sell it to the world on our own terms’’

He disclosed that ‘’the proof is already rising out of the ground, At Sagamu, Nigerian investors are building a 70,000-ton processing facility, the largest this nation has ever seen. Our national grinding capacity has crossed 120,000 tons a year, and it’s growing. The Bank of Industry stands ready as a co-convener of this summit, with capital prepared for deployment into bankable projects.”

The President noted that more than 350,000 Nigerian farming families cultivate cocoa across over 1.4 million hectares, making the country one of the world’s leading producers with about six to seven per cent of global output. He added that cocoa generated more than N3tn in export earnings when global prices exceeded $10,000 per tonne, contributing almost a quarter of Nigeria’s non-oil exports.

He further revealed that the Federal Government through the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security ‘’on the first of July, 2026, at the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria in Ibadan, Oyo state, flagged off the One Million Improved Cocoa Seedlings Roll-Out Programme, bred by our own scientists, quicker to mature, higher in yield, resistant to disease and equal to a changing climate, going out to farming families across our cocoa states’’

He emphasized that “there has never been a moment when processing of origin made more commercial sense than it does today. Nigeria is not asking for charity. Nigeria is offering the best open position in the global food economy. We are open for business, and we are serious’’.

“Take it to our farmers, the true owners of this crop. I make a promise, and I make it in the name of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Value addition is not a project to be done around you. It is a covenant to be kept with you. For a century, the reward of this harvest has been far from the hands that raise It.”, the President concluded

In his remarks, the Minister of State for Industry, Senator John Owan Enoh, said the summit represented a major step in implementing President Tinubu’s Nigerian Industrial Policy, which seeks to increase domestic manufacturing and reduce dependence on raw commodity exports.

Sen. Enoh added that Nigeria’s ambition was no longer to celebrate the volume of cocoa exported but the value created before the commodity leaves the country.

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS) has assured of its readiness to Partner with the Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme Fund (ACGSF), in order to enhance agricultural credit access, achieve Food Sovereignty, Economic Diversification and boost the income of Nigeria Farmers.

Speaking during a courtesy visit by the delegation of the Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme Fund (ACGSF), led by the Board chairman, Dr. Olusegun Oshin at the Ministry’s Room in Abuja, recently, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari stated that the federal government would provide the enabling environment, policy direction, and access to capital as well as credit to assist Nigerian farmers in the agricultural ecosystem.

Kyari said that the robust collaboration and partnership of agricultural financial institutions like ACGSF would ensure success in the Agricultural sector in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President

He noted that the collaboration would ensure that Nigerian farmers have access to credit facilities, achieve food sovereignty, and economic growth.

He emphasized the need for a credible national farmer registry to ensure that only legitimate farmers and agribusiness entrepreneurs would have access to credit facilities and interventions.

In his remarks, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Dr. Aliyu Abdullahi stated that ‘’ to achieve national food security in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda ,there a need to establish a robust foundation for agricultural financing for Nigerian farmers’’

In his welcome remarks, the ACGSF Chairman, Dr. Olusegun Oshin, said the visit was aimed at deepening collaboration with the Ministry on expanding the reach of the Scheme, and increasing farmers’ access to credit.

Dr. Oshin stated that ‘’ ACGSF provide guarantee in respect of loans granted by lending banks for agricultural purposes, with the aim of increasing the level of bank credit to the agricultural sector. Loans under the Scheme include advances, overdrafts and any other credit facility’’.

He revealed that the Board is developing a Trust Fund Model and proposed the establishment of a Joint Technical Working Committee to sustain collaboration with the Ministry.

The Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme (ACGS) was established by Decree No. 20 of 1977. The Scheme became operational in April 1978, and is fully subscribed to by the Federal Government (60%) and Central Bank of Nigeria (40%). The share capital under the Scheme is ₦50 Billion (fifty billion naira).The Scheme is under the management of the Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme Fund Board, and the Central Bank of Nigeria is the managing agent for the administration of the Scheme.

The Federal Government has launched a ₦200 billion share capital mobilization campaign for the proposed Cooperative Bank of Nigeria, under the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme (RH-CRRP) as approved at the 8th Regular Meeting of the National Council on Cooperative Affairs.

The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security and Supervising Minister of Cooperative Affairs, Sen Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi made this disclosure during the North-West Zonal Engagement of the Ministerial Advocacy Tour held on Thursday 18th June, 2026 at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Hall, Kaduna.

Dr Aliyu Abdullahi revealed that ” Ministry is targeting 10,000 cooperative societies across the 36 states and FCT through a tiered mobilization plan: 1,000 societies at ₦21M – ₦50M, 3,000 at ₦16M – ₦20M, and 6,000 at ₦1M – ₦15M”.

The Minister stated that “through this collective effort, we aim to mobilize approximately ₦200 billion and establish a strong, sustainable, and nationally owned cooperative financial institution capable of supporting agricultural development, enterprise growth, financial inclusion, housing, transportation, value-chain development, and wealth creation for millions of Nigerians,”

He emphasized that “this programme is not a government project imposed from above. It is a movement-driven reform agenda that seeks to give life to aspirations that cooperative stakeholders have expressed for decades,”

He added that ” to ensure continuity beyond the current administration, the Ministry has established an Inter-Ministerial Technical Committee for policy coordination and a National Steering Committee with MDAs, apex cooperative organizations, and development partners. The Federal Department of Cooperatives has also assigned dedicated desk officers to each of the seven strategic pillars of RH-CRRP”.

According to him, “the proposed Cooperative Bank of Nigeria will preserve cooperative control and identity while attracting strategic investment. 65% of equity will be owned by cooperative societies through the Cooperative Trust & Investment Society of Nigeria (CoopTrust).
30% will be open to institutional investors, development finance institutions, impact investors, and individual cooperators.
5% is reserved for an Employee Share Ownership Scheme”.

He further revealed that ” the Ministry is rolling out the National Cooperative Digital Architecture Platform (NCDAP) to address data gaps. Key components include the National Cooperative Smart Registry (NCSR), Cooperative Verification Number (CVN) and CoopID, CoopCHECK Credit Bureau powered by CreditRegistry”

“We cannot build a modern, globally competitive cooperative economy using outdated analog systems,” Dr. Abdullahi added

The Minister recalled that cooperatives drove Nigeria’s biggest agricultural successes in the past. In the North-West, marketing societies organized farmers to power, the groundnut pyramids, cotton industry, and hides and skins trade. Similar models delivered results in the old Western Region through cocoa cooperatives and in the Eastern Region through palm produce cooperatives.

He called on the Cooperative Federation of Nigeria, state federations, unions, societies, development partners, traditional institutions, and financial institutions to mobilize members and commit fully to the program.

He further stated that “North-West Zonal Engagement in Kaduna follows the South-West Zonal Engagement held in Lagos, and forms part of the nationwide advocacy tour for RH-CRRP”.

The Minister commended Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, for sustaining the state’s legacy as a centre of commerce, education, agriculture, and innovation, noting that his commitment to security and social inclusion provides a strong foundation for RH-CRRP to thrive.

He lauded the Provost of the Federal Cooperative College, Kaduna, Dr. Mohammed Awwal, for spearheading the Cooperative Education for Sustainable Development Summit 2026 scheduled for June 18–19, 2026 in Kaduna.

“Together, let us restore the cooperative movement to its rightful position as one of the most powerful instruments for economic transformation, social inclusion, and shared prosperity in Nigeria,” he concluded.

In his remarks, the Executive Governor of Kaduna State, Sen Uba Sani, represented by the Commissioner of Agriculture, Hon. Murtala Dabo said that ” the cooperative movement has historically played a vital role in Nigeria’s socio-economic development”.

Sen Uba Sani added that “across our communities, cooperatives have served as platforms for collective action, savings mobilization, access to credit, enterprise development, agricultural production, and community empowerment. They have enabled ordinary citizens to pool resources, reduce risk, improve productivity, and create sustainable livelihoods”.

The Governor pointed out that “we advance major initiatives such as the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ), the Agricultural Quality Assurance Centre (AQAC), agricultural mechanization programmes, climate-smart agriculture initiatives, and value-chain development projects, strong and digitally enabled cooperatives will become even more critical to achieving scale, productivity, competitiveness, and prosperity”.

In his welcome address, Provost, Federal Cooperative College, Kaduna State, Dr. Ibrahim Mohammad Awwal stated that “We are particularly delighted that Kaduna has been selected to host this important engagement. Kaduna occupies a unique place in the history of cooperative development in Northern Nigeria and remains a major centre for cooperative education, training, research and institutional development. The choice of Kaduna for this engagement is therefore both symbolic and strategic”.

During her Goodwill Message, the President, Cooperative Federation of Nigeria, CFN, Mrs Hannatu Mershak said that a digitised cooperative sector would lead to veritable records, easier access to markets and finance as well as greater trust from Government and Development Partners.