The Federal Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with the Cooperative Federation of Nigeria, CFN, and Seamfix Limited for the deployment of Nigeria’s National Cooperative Identity, Trust and Digital Governance Infrastructure, and announced the immediate commencement of a 6-month National Revalidation and Re-certification Exercise for all existing cooperatives.

The MoU was signed on Wednesday, 12th August, 2026 by the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Marcus Olaniyi Ogunbiyi on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture & Food Security, on the second day of the National Technical Workshop on Cooperative Sector Digitalization in Abuja

Speaking during the event, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security and the Supervising Minister of Cooperative Affairs, Sen. Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi said that the agreement marks “the beginning of a new era of visibility, trust, accountability and digital governance” for Nigeria’s cooperative ecosystem and represents the shift “from demonstration to implementation” under the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform & Revamp Programme, RH-CRRP 2030.

Under the revalidation exercise, all existing cooperatives are to approach their respective State Departments of Cooperatives for verification and authentication of their registration records. Following successful revalidation, cooperatives will be onboarded onto the National Cooperative Smart Registry, NCSR, and issued a Cooperative Verification Number, CVN, while their members will progressively receive the Cooperative Member Identification Number, CoopID.

The Minister charged State Directors of Cooperatives as “frontline regulators and implementers” and urged CFN and ICOPRON to mobilize the movement for effective adoption.

At the heart of the new infrastructure are the NCSR, CVN and CoopID, which form the foundation of the National Cooperative Digital Architecture Platform, NCDAP. The objective is “One genuine cooperative. One verifiable CVN. One cooperative member. One verifiable CoopID.”

The Minister explained that the system is designed to close decades of identity and data gaps. With it, government will be able to identify genuine cooperatives, track interventions, and measure impact. “We should be able to know who receives government support, where they are located and what impact that support is making,”
He said. A verified CVN will also serve as a trusted credential for cooperatives to access government interventions, bank loans, contracts, and partnerships.

According to him, the platform will integrate with CoopCHECK, a cooperative credit bureau, to improve credit profiling and lending, and will extend access beyond smartphones to USSD and feature phones to ensure inclusion for cooperators in rural communities.

He added that digital verification will strengthen compliance and enforcement of Section 54 of the Cooperative Societies Act against illegal use of the “Co-operative” name. “Genuine cooperatives have nothing to fear from visibility and verification,” he stated.

The Minister also directed the harmonization of all ongoing reviews of the Nigerian Cooperative Societies Act towards producing a harmonized new Cooperative Societies Bill for full repeal and re-enactment. The new Bill will explicitly recognize digital registration, electronic records, identity, data governance and financial technology.

He stated that the Ministry will work with the Cooperative Federation of Nigeria, the National Assembly, State Houses of Assembly, the Nigerian Law Reform Commission, the Federal Ministry of Justice, the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, and other relevant stakeholders to deliver a modern Cooperative Societies Act that supports a digital, inclusive and accountable cooperative economy.

Sen Abdullahi noted that the reform will provide clarity on registration, governance, reporting, supervision, audit and sanctions, and align with the national identity and financial system architecture. It will also enable interoperability with credit bureaus and fintech platforms while protecting members’ data and rights.

The Minister further linked the digital infrastructure to the proposed Cooperative Bank of Nigeria, CoopBank, noting that NCSR, CVN, CoopID and CoopCHECK will provide the identity and data required for responsible lending and financial inclusion.

“From fragmentation to visibility. From anonymity to verification. From exclusion to financial inclusion. The destination is shared prosperity,” the Minister concluded, stating that the MoU was executed under the Public-Private-People Partnership, 4Ps, model of RH-CRRP 2030.

In a welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi stated that ‘’ Through this MoU we are building the technical backbone for two critical systems, as mentioned yesterday, which are: (i) The National Cooperative Smart Registry (NCSR) to streamline platform to handle registration, searches, and administrative workflows across federal and state levels as well as; (ii)The Cooperative Verification Number (CVN) & CoopID which offer secure identity system and a unique digital footprint for cooperative societies and their members’’.

Dr. Ogunbiyi revealed that ‘’Subject to the terms and conditions of this MoU, FMAFS will provide institutional coordination and stakeholder engagement support reasonably required for implementation of the Programme. While Seamfix shall deploy, operate, maintain, and support the initial phase of the Programme covering cooperative society registration, validation, and identity administration; cooperative member registration, onboarding, and identity enrollment; deployment of cooperative identity and registry infrastructure. The State Directors of cooperatives are the operators who will implement these tools in the field’.

He added that ‘’the Project will eventually establish a nationwide cooperative identity and digital trust ecosystem supporting cooperative registration, identity assurance, verification, operational governance, and related digital enablement initiatives within the cooperative sector’’.

In his remarks, Executive Director and Group COO of Seamfix Limited, Frank Atube stated that ‘’through the Cooperative Verification Number, the CVN, every registered society gets a verified national identity. It can be queried. It can be trusted. And through the CoopID, every cooperator gets their own identity, linked to their society and integrated with the National Identity Infrastructure. Cooperative to CVN. Member to CoopID’’.

He pointed out that ‘’ that ecosystem opens doors: to government programmes, to regulatory support, to development partnerships, and to a trusted data foundation for institutions like the Cooperative Bank of Nigeria to lend to cooperatives that have earned it. We will begin with a pilot across all six geopolitical zones, because we respect the diversity of this country. What works in Lagos must also work in Kebbi’’.

He revealed that ‘’ Seamfix has spent over a decade building national scale identity infrastructure across Nigeria and Africa. Six markets. 350 million identities managed. We have done this before, and we are doing it again. And we believe that identity is a right, not a privilege. That is not a tagline; it is the reason this company exists’’.

The Federal Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with the Cooperative Federation of Nigeria, CFN, and Seamfix Limited for the deployment of Nigeria’s National Cooperative Identity, Trust and Digital Governance Infrastructure, and announced the immediate commencement of a 6-month National Revalidation and Re-certification Exercise for all existing cooperatives.

The MoU was signed on Wednesday, 12th August, 2026 by the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Marcus Olaniyi Ogunbiyi on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture & Food Security, on the second day of the National Technical Workshop on Cooperative Sector Digitalization in Abuja

Speaking during the event, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security and the Supervising Minister of Cooperative Affairs, Sen. Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi said that the agreement marks “the beginning of a new era of visibility, trust, accountability and digital governance” for Nigeria’s cooperative ecosystem and represents the shift “from demonstration to implementation” under the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform & Revamp Programme, RH-CRRP 2030.

Under the revalidation exercise, all existing cooperatives are to approach their respective State Departments of Cooperatives for verification and authentication of their registration records. Following successful revalidation, cooperatives will be onboarded onto the National Cooperative Smart Registry, NCSR, and issued a Cooperative Verification Number, CVN, while their members will progressively receive the Cooperative Member Identification Number, CoopID.

The Minister charged State Directors of Cooperatives as “frontline regulators and implementers” and urged CFN and ICOPRON to mobilize the movement for effective adoption.

At the heart of the new infrastructure are the NCSR, CVN and CoopID, which form the foundation of the National Cooperative Digital Architecture Platform, NCDAP. The objective is “One genuine cooperative. One verifiable CVN. One cooperative member. One verifiable CoopID.”

The Minister explained that the system is designed to close decades of identity and data gaps. With it, government will be able to identify genuine cooperatives, track interventions, and measure impact. “We should be able to know who receives government support, where they are located and what impact that support is making,”
He said. A verified CVN will also serve as a trusted credential for cooperatives to access government interventions, bank loans, contracts, and partnerships.

According to him, the platform will integrate with CoopCHECK, a cooperative credit bureau, to improve credit profiling and lending, and will extend access beyond smartphones to USSD and feature phones to ensure inclusion for cooperators in rural communities.

He added that digital verification will strengthen compliance and enforcement of Section 54 of the Cooperative Societies Act against illegal use of the “Co-operative” name. “Genuine cooperatives have nothing to fear from visibility and verification,” he stated.

The Minister also directed the harmonization of all ongoing reviews of the Nigerian Cooperative Societies Act towards producing a harmonized new Cooperative Societies Bill for full repeal and re-enactment. The new Bill will explicitly recognize digital registration, electronic records, identity, data governance and financial technology.

He stated that the Ministry will work with the Cooperative Federation of Nigeria, the National Assembly, State Houses of Assembly, the Nigerian Law Reform Commission, the Federal Ministry of Justice, the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, and other relevant stakeholders to deliver a modern Cooperative Societies Act that supports a digital, inclusive and accountable cooperative economy.

Sen Abdullahi noted that the reform will provide clarity on registration, governance, reporting, supervision, audit and sanctions, and align with the national identity and financial system architecture. It will also enable interoperability with credit bureaus and fintech platforms while protecting members’ data and rights.

The Minister further linked the digital infrastructure to the proposed Cooperative Bank of Nigeria, CoopBank, noting that NCSR, CVN, CoopID and CoopCHECK will provide the identity and data required for responsible lending and financial inclusion.

“From fragmentation to visibility. From anonymity to verification. From exclusion to financial inclusion. The destination is shared prosperity,” the Minister concluded, stating that the MoU was executed under the Public-Private-People Partnership, 4Ps, model of RH-CRRP 2030.

In a welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi stated that ‘’ Through this MoU we are building the technical backbone for two critical systems, as mentioned yesterday, which are: (i) The National Cooperative Smart Registry (NCSR) to streamline platform to handle registration, searches, and administrative workflows across federal and state levels as well as; (ii)The Cooperative Verification Number (CVN) & CoopID which offer secure identity system and a unique digital footprint for cooperative societies and their members’’.

Dr. Ogunbiyi revealed that ‘’Subject to the terms and conditions of this MoU, FMAFS will provide institutional coordination and stakeholder engagement support reasonably required for implementation of the Programme. While Seamfix shall deploy, operate, maintain, and support the initial phase of the Programme covering cooperative society registration, validation, and identity administration; cooperative member registration, onboarding, and identity enrollment; deployment of cooperative identity and registry infrastructure. The State Directors of cooperatives are the operators who will implement these tools in the field’.

He added that ‘’the Project will eventually establish a nationwide cooperative identity and digital trust ecosystem supporting cooperative registration, identity assurance, verification, operational governance, and related digital enablement initiatives within the cooperative sector’’.

In his remarks, Executive Director and Group COO of Seamfix Limited, Frank Atube stated that ‘’through the Cooperative Verification Number, the CVN, every registered society gets a verified national identity. It can be queried. It can be trusted. And through the CoopID, every cooperator gets their own identity, linked to their society and integrated with the National Identity Infrastructure. Cooperative to CVN. Member to CoopID’’.

He pointed out that ‘’ that ecosystem opens doors: to government programmes, to regulatory support, to development partnerships, and to a trusted data foundation for institutions like the Cooperative Bank of Nigeria to lend to cooperatives that have earned it. We will begin with a pilot across all six geopolitical zones, because we respect the diversity of this country. What works in Lagos must also work in Kebbi’’.

He revealed that ‘’ Seamfix has spent over a decade building national scale identity infrastructure across Nigeria and Africa. Six markets. 350 million identities managed. We have done this before, and we are doing it again. And we believe that identity is a right, not a privilege. That is not a tagline; it is the reason this company exists’’

The Federal Government has begun validation of Nigeria’s first National Agricultural Land and Soil Management Policy (NALSMP), leveraging ward-level soil data to help farmers cut costs, increase yields, and build climate resilience. The policy is targeted for finalization within the next 6 to 8 months.

Declaring open the 3-Day National Consultation Stakeholders Workshop in Abuja today, the Honourable Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi stated that the consultation comes at a critical time due to a food security emergency, rising input costs, and worsening climate disruptions.

According to him, “Nigeria’s food system faces significant challenges. The population is increasing, input costs are escalating, and climate-related disruptions are becoming more frequent. Central to these issues is our soil.”

Sen. Abdullahi highlighted that “Healthy soil is key to lowering food prices and making our farms more resilient to droughts and floods. Without intentional measures, the advancements we achieve in seeds, mechanization, and financing will be compromised.”

The Minister said the workshop will focus on four areas. First, validating policy actions that are straightforward for farmers to implement so the policy translates into practical steps at the farm level. Second, aligning the roles and responsibilities of the Federal, State, and Local Governments in land and soil governance to ensure coordinated implementation.

Third, connecting soil health to climate adaptation under the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project. The Minister noted that healthy soils rich in organic matter retain moisture during dry spells and reduce runoff during heavy rainfall.

Finally, he added, it will create avenues for private sector investment in soil restoration, including incentives for soil testing, organic fertilizers, and digital advisory services to ensure sustainability beyond government funding.

He pointed out that data from the Nigeria Soil Information System (NiSIS) and the Nigeria Farmers Soil Health Scheme (NFSHS) will enable personalized recommendations on soil pH, organic matter, and fertilizer use for farmers at the LGA and ward level.

For the first time, the Minister said, “fertilizer subsidy will be linked to soil health data” to ensure government support is targeted and effective.

Sen Abdullahi charged farmers to see themselves as stewards of the land and to embrace practices that nourish the soil, not just the crops, such as cover crops, crop rotation, organic inputs, and minimal tillage.

He also called on State Governments to integrate soil health into Agricultural Development Plans; Researchers and Academia to translate NFSHS data into clear, localized recommendations; the Private Sector to invest in soil testing and digital advisory services; and urged Development Partners to support implementation, monitoring, and capacity building.

“This policy must be applicable across all regions of Nigeria. It will be ineffective if it remains merely a document in Abuja,” the Minister said.

On Federal Government achievements and commitment, the Minister highlighted the rollout of NiSIS, integration of NFSHS into the ECOWAS Regional Fertilizer Hub, partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and deployment of modern soil laboratory equipment to 15 states.

He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to enhance soil testing through NiSIS, and collaborate with the Federal Ministries of Environment and Water Resources on land restoration under ACReSAL.

“The soil does not deceive. When we nurture it, it sustains us. Conversely, when we mistreat it, it hits back with diminished yields, flooding, and poverty,” Sen. Abdullahi concluded.

In his Welcome address, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr Marcus Olaniyi Ogunbiyi stated
” Healthy soils are the bedrock of sustainable agriculture. They support crop productivity, regulate water, store carbon, conserve biodiversity and sustain millions of farming families”.

 

Dr Ogunbiyi pointed out that ” we expect to undertake a comprehensive clause-by-clause review of the draft policy; validate its strategic pillars of Protection, Restoration, Governance, Financing and Data Management;

 

He added that ” it will clearly define the complementary roles of the Federal Government, State Governments, Local Government Councils, development partners and other stakeholders; and agree on a practical roadmap for policy approval, implementation and domestication across the Federation”.

He urged participants “to to remain focused on the larger objective before us. Let us leave this workshop with a policy that is not merely another document on the shelf, but a practical, implementable and nationally owned framework capable of restoring our soils, protecting our agricultural landscapes, enhancing farmers’ productivity and strengthening Nigeria’s food security for present and future generations”

Participants at the workshop include representatives from ACReSAL, OCP Africa, IFDC, AGRA, Sasakawa, FAO, IFAD, World Bank, NiMET, Farmers Associations, Women and Youth Groups, Academia, and the Private Sector.

The Federal Government has stated that agricultural mechanization and the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone, SAPZ, are critical to achieving national food sovereignty

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, made this known during the Prof. Gabriel Ayodele Makanjuola Lecture Series (GAMALS), held recently at Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-Ife in Osun State.

The lecture, themed “Honouring the Nigerian Forerunner of Agricultural Engineering at 90: Legacy, Leadership and the Future of Agricultural Transformation”, marked the 90th birthday of Prof. Makanjuola.

Kyari highlighted that under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, “mechanization is no longer optional. It is now an instrument of economic sovereignty.”

He added: “Agricultural engineering is no longer merely a supporting discipline. It is a strategic pillar of national transformation. But mechanization carries it forward. Not for the large estate alone, but scaled to the hands of the smallholder. These are the men and women who feed this nation, and they are who our strategy must reach.”

According to the Minister, “We celebrate an idea powerful enough to shape generations. It is the celebration of a man who did not wait for the future of agricultural engineering to arrive before he built it.”

“We gather in this great citadel of learning to salute a national pathfinder, pacesetter and trailblazer whose ideas helped engineer Nigeria’s agricultural modernization journey and whose classroom became a training ground for global leaders.”

Kyari noted that the life of the nonagenarian shows that nations are not transformed by policy declarations alone but by “people whose imagination breeds innovation, whose research breeds industry and whose teaching breeds leadership”, adding that the professor’s “story is a proof of concept that enduring greatness is built not by visibility but by utility.”

He revealed that the Professor’s work proved that “technology becomes transformational only when it reduces human drudgery, improves productivity, creates wealth, and restores dignity.”

Kyari cited Makanjuola’s innovations in food processing, agricultural machinery and post-harvest engineering, including yam pounding machines that earned three British patents. “When a Nigerian professor’s innovation earns three British patents, it is proof that African professors can produce world-class solutions,” he said.

“Prof. Makanjuola is an Iroko tree that became a forest. He laid the intellectual and professional foundations that elevated agricultural engineering into a recognized force for national development. The nation honoured that work with the Nigerian National Order of Merit, and he became one of the foremost architects of the Nigerian Institution of Agricultural Engineers (NIAE),” Kyari added.

He listed the administration’s priorities to include “expand agricultural mechanization, accelerate agro-industrialization, increase value addition and scale digital agriculture.”

“Nowhere is this clearer than in the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone, SAPZ, programme, where all of these priorities converge,” he stressed.

The Minister said SAPZ “brings agro-processing directly to where our farmers produce” and “is a flagship programme in Africa,” adding that the programme converts “our raw harvests into finished value.”

“Our mission is not simply to grow more food. It is to build a resilient, tech-driven agricultural economy. A Nigeria that feeds itself on its own terms, controls its own food future, and trades with the world from a position of strength,” Kyari added.

While calling on young engineers to emulate Prof. Makanjuola, the Minister said, “Study Prof. Makanjuola as a model. He did not chase recognition. Recognition followed relevance. He did not inherit institutions. He built them.

“Nigeria’s next agricultural engineering revolution requires builders of that caliber. Do not chase the applause; chase the impact. On behalf of the Government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I salute this legendary son of Nigeria.” He concluded

Nigeria has made significant strides in transforming its agricultural sector and enhancing food security over the past three years under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, according to the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari.
At a stakeholders’ engagement forum on Agricultural and Food Systems Transformation, Senator Kyari highlighted key achievements recorded by the Ministry since the current administration took office, particularly in the last two years.

The Minister noted that food prices of essential commodities have dropped by up to 50 percent nationwide, reversing the sharp increases witnessed in previous years.

Since assuming office, this administration has made food security a top priority. Our efforts are starting to pay off, with a notable impact on food prices,” Kyari said.

The Ministry has focused on developing strategic value chains including rice, maize, wheat, millet, sorghum, yam, cocoa, cassava, soybeans, cotton, and oil palm, among others.

These efforts have created opportunities for millions of smallholder farmers.
Key interventions in 2024 and 2025 include the distribution of high-quality seeds, agrochemicals, safety kits, and pest management packs, alongside extensive capacity-building programmes.

These measures have helped many farmers transition from subsistence farming to viable agribusinesses.

A 2025 Agricultural Performance Survey conducted by the National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services (NAERLS) in collaboration with the Ministry confirmed higher outputs in major crops such as rice, maize, sorghum, millet, cowpea, yam, and cassava compared to 2024.

The government distributed over 1.9 million bags of fertilizers to nearly one million farmers.
Additional achievements include the promotion of organic fertilizers, with 12,000 litres distributed, the training of 109 fertilizer inspectors, and the training of over 329 industry stakeholders on regulatory compliance.

The Ministry also established a National Reference Laboratory and upgraded the National Fertilizer Management Platform to improve quality control and curb the circulation of fake fertilizers.
Over 3,500 farmers were trained on sustainable soil management practices.

Significant investments were made in rural infrastructure, including the construction of approximately 170 kilometres of asphalt roads and 57 kilometres of earth roads.

The Ministry also provided 296 motorized and solar-powered boreholes with water treatment plants, installed 3,596 solar street lights, and constructed 69 rural housing and market facilities.

In 2025, the Ministry launched the Renewed Hope Agricultural Mechanization Programme with the deployment of 2,000 tractors and other agricultural equipment.

It also established 10 large-scale integrated processing plants across the six geopolitical zones and set up seven composite flour milling factories.
Two agribusiness incubation centres were also established at Federal University Lokoja and Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike.
The Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ), supported by the African Development Bank, recorded notable early successes, including the profiling of 7,398 farmers, cultivation of 409 hectares under climate-resilient practices, and improved rice yields averaging five metric tons per hectare.

The National Agricultural Growth Scheme – Agro-Pocket (NAGS-AP) registered over 647,500 farmers and supported 622,818 with subsidized inputs, contributing to a 30 percent increase in crop production in participating states.
Under the Nigerian Farmers Soil Health Scheme, pilot soil assessment laboratories were installed in four states, while farmers recorded up to 20 percent yield increases through improved soil testing and fertilizer recommendations.

The Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation provided N700 billion risk cover to 199,275 farmers.
The Bank of Agriculture also received a N250 billion facility to provide single-digit interest loans to smallholder farmers.

The National Agricultural Development Fund supported various value chains and flood-affected farmers.
The Ministry further strengthened cooperatives by registering 40 National Cooperative Apexes and training their leaders, while enhancing export readiness through the Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Service for 30 key agro-commodities.

Senator Kyari emphasized special attention to women and youths through gender-responsive extension services, access to credit, and training in climate-smart agriculture.
The Ministry also adopted the First Lady’s “Every Home a Garden” initiative to promote household food production.

The Minister acknowledged collaboration with sister ministries, including the Ministry of Livestock Development, Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, and Ministry of Water Resources, stressing the importance of sustained stakeholder engagement.
While acknowledging remaining challenges, Senator Kyari expressed optimism that sustained collaboration, innovation, and investment would further strengthen Nigeria’s agricultural sector and achieve lasting food security.

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari has stated that active participation of Youth in Agriculture would Fast-track Development in the Sector, Increase Production, and Revitalize Agribusiness as well as achieve Food and Nutrition Security.

The Minister made this disclosure during the courtesy visit by the United Nation (UN) Delegation led by the Assistant Secretary General Youth Affairs, Dr. Felipe Paullier, in Abuja recently.

Kyari stated that Federal Government is making deliberate efforts to prioritize youth in the agricultural ecosystem through financial inclusion, economic opportunities, and enabling environments.

The Minister revealed several key government initiatives driving Nigeria’s agricultural transformation, including the operationalization of the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) and the N1.5 trillion recapitalization of the Bank of Agriculture (BOA), one of the largest agricultural finance commitments in the country’s history.

According to him, ‘’these measures will expand access to affordable finance for youth led agribusinesses’’.
He stressed that through targeted programmes, such as mechanization, access to finance, digital platforms, and extension services, the government would empower a new generation of farmers.

He highlighted the role of Nigerian youth like young innovators namely Samson Ogbole, Femi Adekoya, Atinuke Lebile, and Azeez Salawu played in shaping policy and practice, as well as pioneering projects in soilless farming, drone technology, biofortified crops, and ecosystem coordination.

In his remarks, the UN Assistant Secretary General Youth Affairs, Dr. Felipe Paullier stated that the Youth office was established by the General Assembly to lead the engagement and advocacy for the advancement of youth related issues across the United Nation’s Members.

He added that the office would foster increase in access to resources, land, technology, information and boost youth participation in policy dialogue

In his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Marcus Olaniyi Ogunbiyi revealed that the procurement of 2,000 tractors and over 9,000 agricultural implements, the largest mechanization drive in Nigeria’s history aimed at enhancing productivity and creating decent employment opportunities for youth in agribusiness

He stated that ‘’this is the largest mechanization initiative in Nigeria’s history. This bold intervention will expand access to modern machinery, enhance productivity, and create new opportunities for youth in machinery operation, maintenance, and agribusiness services. It is part of our deliberate effort to make agriculture a field of innovation, dignity, and decent work for the next generation’’During his Goodwill message, young Agriprenur, Tobi Jeremiah Olanrewaju lauded the Federal Government for providing financial intervention through National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF), free Agricultural inputs and implements to young farmers in Nigeria.

The Federal Government has emphasized the need for stakeholder collaboration to empower Nigerian youth in agricultural sector, highlighting their potential to drive climate-resilient and finance-enabled agrifood systems.

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, made the call today at the First edition of the National AgriBusiness Strategy Youth Dialogue held in Abuja, recently with the themed “Building Climate-Resilient and Finance-Enabled Pathways for Youth in Agrifood Systems in Nigeria”.

The Minister emphasized that the Dialogue is a clarion call to harness the vibrancy and tenacity of the youth, who represent over 70% of Nigeria’s population, to reshape the sector for job creation, food availability, and wealth creation.

Sen. Kyari stressed that “When we empower our youth with access to finance and opportunity, we are not simply supporting individual enterprises. We are shaping markets, strengthening resilience and defining the future of our agrifood systems’’.

He noted that despite the resilient production systems, agriculture – the backbone of economic activity across Africa, continues to face persistent structural challenges hence the compelling need to harness the energy, innovation, and leadership of the young people to drive the transformation of agrifood systems.

According to him, “The integration of the Sustainable Development Goals, the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme, and the African Agricultural Youth Strategy into our National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy demonstrates our clear commitment to building a sustainable, inclusive, and innovation-driven agricultural sector.”

He revealed that Nigeria identifies with its strategic agriculture transformation partner – the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), which among others, recognizes the place of innovation, creativity, efficiency, enterprise development access to finance and strong networks of collaboration among young people as the core of building competitive and resilient food systems.

He reiterated Nigeria’s commitment as reflected in its recent emergence as Chairperson of the 49th Session of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) positioning the country to shape global agricultural priorities for youth inclusion and sustainable financing.

He Pointed out that “We are backing our commitment with action, Through strategic collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria, National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF), the Bank of Agriculture (BOA), the Nigeria Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC) and other key financial institutions, the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Administration has expanded access to agricultural finance, derisked rural investment, and unlocked capital for youth led enterprises.”

He added that “These reforms are strengthening credit delivery, scaling climate risk insurance, and extending digital financial services to underserved communities, building a more resilient and youth driven agrifood system,”.

He further said that the National and Global positioning underscores the need to translate leadership into tangible solutions for the youth, therefore calling for robust mentorship frameworks, expanding market access and fostering strategic partnerships so as to empower young entrepreneurs to build viable and competitive agribusiness.

While highlighting the need for actionable commitments, the Minister added, “A strategy on paper is not enough. Domestication – through state-level adoption, stakeholder alignment, resource mobilization, and measurable implementation – is where real impact lies.”

In his welcome address, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi, stated that the Dialogue aims to leverage resilience and finance in agriculture, bringing together young innovators and leaders to shape the sector’s landscape.

Dr. Ogunbiyi noted that food security, a national priority under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, cannot be achieved without securing the future of Nigeria’s youth in agriculture, noting that challenges like climate variability, limited finance, weak infrastructure, and barriers to land, technology, and markets necessitate this dialogue to encourage young people’s participation.The Ministry is committed to creating an enabling environment where young Nigerians see agriculture as a first-choice career – modern, profitable, technology-driven, and globally competitive. “We must move from rhetoric to results, from fragmented interventions to coordinated impact, and from pilot projects to scalable national programs,” he emphasized.

The Permanent Secretary stated that the Ministry’s focus on domesticating the African Agribusiness Youth Strategy and institutionalizing the Youth Agripreneurs Programme Index (YAPI) for planning, monitoring, and evaluation, called for actionable commitments, clear timelines, and defined responsibilities, amplifying young people’s voices as co-creators of policy and implementation.

During his presentation, Senior Specialist, Continental and Regional Engagement for Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), Mr. David Adama, said that “We are no longer just talking about agriculture; we are talking about food systems. The ‘Kampala Era’ demands a shift toward total inclusivity, ensuring that whatever government does takes into account young people, women, and vulnerable groups.”

Mr. Adama added that “Our target is clear: we must empower at least 30 percent of youth and 30 percent of women in every food system value chain, while reducing the youth gap between men and women by 50 percent. We aren’t just here to talk; we are here to track measurable progress.”

He noted that “Nigeria is leading the way as the first country to domesticate the Africa Agribusiness Youth Strategy through this dialogue. To the young people here: you are leading this conversation. Take advantage of this opportunity to ensure your ideas are woven into the national plan.”

Highlight of the event was inspection exhibition stand led by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security and other stakeholders

In attendance were Representative of the Minister of Water Resources, ECOWAS officials and other relevant stakeholders

 

Federal Government has declared open the Technical Session of the 47th Regular Meeting of National Council on Agriculture and Food Security (NCAFS) to achieve food sovereignty and revolutionize the agricultural ecosystem

Speaking during the Technical Session of the NCAFS, held at Musa Yar’Adua Conference Hall in Kaduna ,Kaduna State on Monday, 3rd November 2025, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi said that the Technical Session would enable stakeholders to develop strategies for food sovereignty and reduce the country’s reliance on imports.

Dr Marcus Ogunbiyi stated that ” the theme, ‘Food Sovereignty and Food Security in an Era of Renewed Hope’, aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises agriculture for economic recovery and transformation.”

He noted that ” the technical session as the council’s engine room,where memoranda from states, partners, and the private sector were reviewed to guide national agricultural policy.”

He added that “the platform ensure that stakeholders engage in robust, evidence-based discussions that will ultimately shape the resolutions to be taken at the Counicl Session on Thursday”

“This process is central to the strength and credibility of the National Council on Agriculture and Food Security. It ensures that the recommendations we advance are inclusive, well-informed, and grounded in the realities of our diverse agricultural landscape. “

“Our task in this Technical Session is, therefore, not only to review memoranda but to build consensus to blend knowledge from policy, research, and practice into actionable strategies that would drive transformation across the value chains”, he added.

Ogunbiyi urged the participants to evaluate what has worked, identify emerging gaps, and collectively chart a new course for Nigeria’s agricultural transformation and to leverage on the opportunity to share experiences and innovations from their respective states, especially on climate-smart agriculture, extension reforms, agribusiness development, and digital transformation.

Speaking further, he commended the participation of development partners such as FAO, IFAD, WFP, AfDB, World Bank, USAID, IFPRI, amongst others for their technical and financial support which continues to strengthen the collective capacity to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 2-Zero Hunger.

He, therefore, urged the participants to approach the deliberations with focus and a spirit of collaboration to achieve productive and meaningful outcomes that would strengthen Nigeria’s journey toward food sovereignty and food security.

Earlier, in his welcome address, the Hon. Commissioner, Ministry of Agriculture, Kaduna State, Hon. Murtala Mohammad Dabo said the Government and good people of Kaduna State are delighted to host the national dialogue on the future of agriculture – a sector that binds every part of the country, sustains the communities, and remains vital to collective progress.

He added that Kaduna State is proud to open its doors to the nation, and to serve as the meeting ground for this year’s Council deliberations, pointing out that this Council, over the years, has evolved into far more than a policy platform.

According to him, “It has become a space for reflection, learning, and renewal, where states share experiences, forge collaborations, and align strategies for national growth. We are confident that the 47th Session will carry forward this proud tradition and set new benchmarks in our pursuit of food security and agricultural transformation. ”

The Commissioner further stated that Kaduna State, under the visionary leadership of His Excellency, Senator (Dr.) Uba Sani, CON, agriculture has been reimagined as a driver of opportunity, peace, and prosperity, noting his unwavering support and his belief that no society can prosper without empowering its farmers.

He, therefore expressed deep appreciation to the Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Food Security for the confidence reposed in Kaduna to host this prestigious gathering, and to all our colleagues from the 36 states and the FCT for their friendship and partnership.

In his remarks, Director Planning and Policy Coordinator, Mr. Ibrahim Tanimu reiterated that the theme was a call to action and a shared vision, stressing that it challenges us to strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to produce the food we consume and reduce external dependence to ensure that every Nigerian household has reliable access to safe and nutritious food.

He noted that we are to continually provide an enabling environment to actualize the country’s agricultural potential with the engagement of individuals and groups in productive ventures.

The highlight of the event was the presentation of memos from various project departments of the Ministry, State Offices, and Research Institutes, amongst others.

In attendance were representatives from Actionaid, GiZ, International Fertiliser Development Centre, IFDC, and AGRA, amongst others.

Eremah Antonia (Mrs)
3/11/2025