Nigeria Hosts Africa Agriculture Dialogue 2025 to Advance Agri-Finance Agenda

News in Brief:

-Nigeria to host Africa Agriculture Dialogue 2025 in Abuja, focusing on unlocking finance for agricultural transformation across Africa.

-The event highlights Nigeria’s growing leadership in food security, livestock reform, and inclusive agricultural development.

Nigeria is taking centre stage in shaping Africa’s agricultural future as it prepares to host the Africa Agriculture Dialogue (AAD) 2025 at the State House Banquet Hall in Abuja. The event, themed Unlocking Finance for Agricultural Transformation in Africa, will focus on one of the continent’s most pressing challenges, financing sustainable agricultural growth.

The dialogue precedes the annual World Food Prize in the United States, a global platform that celebrates outstanding contributions to improving food security. Nigeria’s hosting of AAD 2025 marks a major step in its growing reputation as a leading voice for agricultural transformation on the continent.

Spotlight on Agricultural Financing

For years, African farmers have battled with limited access to affordable credit, leaving millions unable to invest in improved seeds, modern equipment, or irrigation systems. According to the African Development Bank (AfDB), the continent’s annual agricultural financing gap exceeds $80 billion.

Speaking ahead of the event, Idris Ajimobi, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Livestock Development, and Richard-Mark Mbaram, Special Adviser to the Minister of Livestock Development, said the dialogue would tackle this issue head-on.

Ajimobi noted that the conversation would centre on developing 'innovative financing models' that will ease capital access for smallholders, cooperatives, and agribusinesses.

"The lack of financing remains a major constraint to agricultural development across Africa. Hosting the AAD provides a unique opportunity to discuss solutions, build partnerships, and unlock Africa’s true agricultural potential," he further explained.

A Platform for African Voices

The Africa Agriculture Dialogue 2025 is expected to attract a diverse mix of participants, from senior government officials and international financiers to agribusiness leaders, farmers, and innovators. The event aims to amplify African perspectives on agricultural transformation while aligning national and regional investment strategies with the continent’s long-term growth ambitions.

Mbaram described the dialogue as an important forum that ensures African agricultural priorities reach a global audience.

He added that AAD’s outcomes would shape Africa’s participation at the World Food Prize and other international agricultural gatherings later in the year.

Nigeria’s Leadership in Agricultural Transformation

Nigeria’s hosting of the event underscores its renewed focus on revitalising agriculture as the backbone of economic diversification and food security.

Ajimobi pointed to ongoing government reforms, including the National Livestock Master Plan (N-LMP), a five-year roadmap aimed at modernising the livestock sector. The plan, developed in partnership with the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES) and international partners, prioritises animal breeding, veterinary health, and improved market access for livestock farmers.

According to him, these initiatives are part of President Bola Tinubu’s broader agricultural transformation drive, which includes the creation of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development.

Linking Policy with Action

Richard-Mark Mbaram commended the Federal Government for translating its promises into tangible action. He cited the State of Emergency on Food Security declared by the Tinubu administration as a turning point for Nigeria’s agricultural future.

“The declaration was not just symbolic,” he said. “It was a clear message that the government recognises food security as the foundation of national stability and economic resilience.”

Mbaram added that the government’s hands-on approach, from promoting value chain development to investing in livestock and climate-smart agriculture, shows a deliberate shift from talk to execution.

Why the Dialogue Matters

Agriculture remains Africa’s largest employer, contributing nearly 35 per cent of the continent’s GDP and supporting the livelihoods of over 60 per cent of its population. Yet, without adequate financing and policy support, its potential remains underexploited.

By hosting the Africa Agriculture Dialogue, Nigeria is positioning itself not just as a participant but as a leader in redefining how agricultural investments are mobilised and managed across the continent.

If the discussions at AAD 2025 lead to practical solutions, they could pave the way for improved farmer financing, stronger agribusiness partnerships, and a more resilient African food system capable of feeding its growing population sustainably.