WAF Launches Nigeria Council to Drive Food Security Push

News in brief:

-World Agriculture Forum launches Nigeria Council to boost food security, investment, and collaboration.

-Stakeholders emphasise shift to agribusiness, value chains, and climate-resilient agriculture.

The World Agriculture Forum Nigeria (WAF) has inaugurated its Country Council as part of efforts to strengthen agricultural systems, promote rural development, and enhance food security across the country.

The inauguration, recently held in Abuja, signals a renewed push to reposition agriculture as a key driver of inclusive economic growth and environmental sustainability.

Platform for Investment, Innovation and Collaboration

Speaking at the event, Executive Director of the WAF, Dr MJ Khan, described the initiative as both timely and strategic.

Represented by Mr Lekan Ofem, Director of Strategy and Head of Country Councils and Stakeholder Engagement, Khan said the council would serve as a platform for collaboration, innovation, and farmer empowerment.

He noted that the body would also play a critical role in advancing climate resilience, promoting agribusiness expansion, and facilitating trade and technology adoption.

“This council will act as a bridge, unlocking investments and driving impactful initiatives,” he said.

Government Reaffirms Commitment to Agribusiness Model

Dr Musa Umar, Director at the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to building a resilient and inclusive agricultural system.

He emphasised that agriculture remains central to national development, contributing to food security, job creation, industrial growth, and economic diversification.

Umar noted that the government is shifting from subsistence farming towards a more commercial, value chain-driven agribusiness model.

“We are prioritising value chain development, mechanisation, irrigation expansion, access to quality inputs, post-harvest management, storage systems, agro-processing and market linkages,” he said.

Bridging Gaps Across the Agricultural Value Chain

Earlier, Country Director of WAF Nigeria, Dr Alexander Isong, said the council would address gaps between production and value addition within the agricultural sector.

According to him, the initiative will focus on policy formulation, project development, funding, and implementation to drive sectoral growth.

He stressed that modern agricultural systems must move beyond fragmented production to integrated, market-linked ecosystems.

“Agriculture must move from fragmented production systems to coordinated ecosystems where farmers are connected to storage, logistics, processing and markets,” he said.

Focus on Sustainable Food Systems and Resilience

Isong highlighted that food security rests on four key pillars: availability, access, utilisation, and stability.

He added that reducing post-harvest losses and strengthening supply chains would significantly improve Nigeria’s agricultural productivity and economic performance.

In her remarks, the Iyaloja General of Nigeria, Mrs Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, underscored the urgency of addressing food security challenges.

Represented by Chief Mrs Adimchinaka Onwukwe, she pointed to rising food prices, weak supply chains, and post-harvest losses as persistent concerns.

She called for greater inclusion of women and youth, noting their critical role in the agricultural workforce.

“We must empower women and engage young people by making agriculture more innovative, technology-driven and commercially attractive,” she said.

Stakeholders at the event emphasised the need to move beyond policy discussions to concrete implementation.

They stressed that coordinated action, stronger partnerships, and sustained investment would be essential to translating agricultural policy into measurable productivity and long-term prosperity.