Highlights from the Inaugural WAYFARC Conference in The Southwest Region (Lagos)

Highlights from the Inaugural WAYFARC Conference in The Southwest Region (Lagos)

On October 18-19, 2024, Lagos hosted the inaugural Women and Youth Farmers Agripreneur Regional Conference (WAYFARC), a groundbreaking event organized by the Nigeria Agribusiness Group (NABG). Under the theme Inclusive Agribusiness: Leave No One Behind,” the conference set the stage for women and youth to take the lead in transforming Nigeria’s agribusiness sector in Nigeria.

The conference’s primary objective was to empower women and young people into agribusiness by providing access to resources, finance, and the knowledge needed to build sustainable ventures. With attendees from across Nigeria’s six states in the southwest region, the conference focused on creating an inclusive environment where both women and youth could thrive, overcoming the traditional barriers that have often limited their roles in agriculture.

The two-day conference featured thought-provoking panel discussions that tackled crucial topics such as value addition, leveraging technology, and the unique challenges faced by women and youth in the agribusiness sector.

WAYFARC also provided a platform to discuss the significant challenges faced by women and youth in agribusiness, including:

  • Limited access to affordable finance.
  • The high cost of adopting agricultural technologies.
  • Climate change’s impact on farming.
  • Inconsistent standards and lack of quality control mechanisms.

However, these challenges were also seen as opportunities for innovation, with calls for more inclusive policies, mentorship, and capacity-building programs aimed at helping women and youth scale their businesses and compete globally.

The conference concluded with the appointment of regional champions who will work closely with NABG to address key issues such as policy advocacy, grassroots mobilization, and transitioning Nigeria’s agriculture sector into a more inclusive and sustainable agribusiness model.

The event marked the beginning of a broader movement to transform the agribusiness landscape in Nigeria, with women and youth playing critical roles in ensuring the sector’s long-term success. NABG remains committed to driving this change by empowering the next generation of agripreneurs to leave no one behind.

Get Involved
Are you passionate about agribusiness? Whether you’re a farmer, entrepreneur, or advocate, there’s a place for you in this journey. Join the conversation, share your insights, and help drive inclusive agribusiness in Nigeria.

 

Full Scale Importation Won’t Make Nigeria Food Secure

Full Scale Importation Won’t Make Nigeria Food Secure

 

 

 

Arc. Kabir Ibrahim, National President of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), has said that full scale importation of food into Nigeria cannot make the country food secure, saying that the effort in that regard will forever remain stop-gap or palliative.

A release on Sunday issued by Ibrahim, explained that Nigeria can only mitigate, what he described as “imminent hunger catastrophe through focused agriculture and sustainable agribusiness.”

Ibrahim, who is also the President of Nigeria Agribusiness Group (NABG), said the current level of crushing food inflation occasioned by stresses in Nigeria’s Food System sprouting from low productivity predicated on low mechanisation,difficulty in access to credit,access to veritable and affordable seeds, access to manageable and ready-to-go transportation, inadequate smart agricultural facilitation, insecurity and lately flooding as well as drought in some places due to the severe effects of climate change are making it next to impossible to enable the average household to put food on the table.

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NABG’s Strong Presence at the African Food Systems Forum 2024 in Kigali Rwanda: Pioneering a Sustainable Future for Agriculture in Africa

NABG’s Strong Presence at the African Food Systems Forum 2024 in Kigali Rwanda: Pioneering a Sustainable Future for Agriculture in Africa

At the African Food Systems Forum (#AFS2024), Africa’s leading platform for agricultural innovation and food security in Kigali Rwanda, the Nigeria Agribusiness Group (NABG) made a powerful impact. With an assembly of over 2,000 stakeholders from across the continent, the forum was a convergence of minds dedicated to revolutionizing Africa’s food systems.

Led by NABG’s esteemed President, Arc. Kabir Ibrahim, and accompanied by our Director General, Jafar Umar, alongside other elected officials and board members, NABG played a pivotal role in the strategic discussions that shaped the event.

The forum, renowned for its focus on advancing sustainable agricultural practices, provided a platform for NABG to champion innovative approaches and advocate for policies that promote the growth and resilience of Africa’s agricultural sector.

The Urgency of Africa’s Agricultural Transformation

Data from the United Nations and the African Development Bank AFDB indicates that African population is forecast to double by 2050 to at least 2.4 billion and will continue to grow to 4.2 billion, four times its current size in the next 100 years. This exponential growth presents a unique challenge—feeding the continent’s expanding population sustainably. At #AFS2024, NABG joined forces with key stakeholders to address this challenge head-on, focusing on climate-smart agriculture, innovation in agribusiness, and the creation of resilient food systems.

Key Highlights from AFS2024

1. Strategic Discussions on Climate-Smart Agriculture and Food Security

Climate change poses a significant threat to food security, particularly in Africa, where agriculture is a primary livelihood for millions. At AFS2024, NABG was at the forefront of discussions on climate-smart agriculture, emphasizing the need for practices that not only increase productivity but also enhance resilience to climate impacts. Our delegation highlighted successful initiatives and explored new strategies to mitigate the effects of climate change on African agriculture.

2. Forging Partnerships to Drive Innovation in Agribusiness

Innovation is critical to transforming Africa’s food systems. During the forum, NABG forged strategic partnerships aimed at driving technological advancements and scaling up agribusinesses across the continent. These collaborations are expected to accelerate the adoption of modern agricultural practices, enhance value chains, and open up new markets for African farmers.

3. Advocating for Sustainable Agricultural Development

Policy advocacy remains a cornerstone of NABG’s mission. At AFS2024, our leaders engaged with policymakers, development partners, and private sector stakeholders to push for policies that support sustainable agricultural development. These discussions focused on creating an enabling environment for investment in agriculture, improving access to finance for farmers, and ensuring that agricultural practices align with environmental sustainability goals.

NABG’s Commitment to Africa’s Agricultural Future

NABG is committed to leading the charge in reshaping Africa’s food systems. By participating in forums like AFS2024, we are not only contributing to the global dialogue on agriculture but also ensuring that Africa’s voice is heard. Our engagement at the forum underscores NABG’s dedication to fostering a resilient and sustainable agricultural sector that can feed the continent and beyond.

As we move forward, NABG will continue to work closely with our partners, leveraging the insights and connections gained at AFS2024 to drive meaningful change in Africa’s agricultural landscape.

Let’s build a future where Africa’s food systems are robust, inclusive, and capable of withstanding the challenges of tomorrow.

#AFS2024 #InnovateAccelerateScale #AfricaFoodSystems2024 #NABG #SustainableAgriculture #ClimateSmartAgriculture

National Seed Policy Implementation Roundtable Meeting

National Seed Policy Implementation Roundtable Meeting

NABG, in collaboration with National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC), hosted the Seed Policy Implementation Roundtable at the NASC HQs in FCT. The meeting had in attendance representatives from Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), Harvest Plus, Seed Association of Nigeria (SEEDAN), the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), AGRA, JESNOCH International Limited, and the Farm and Infrastructure Foundation (FIF) where we explored the National Seed Policy’s key provisions, implementation challenges, and strategies for improvement.

Highlights included a dynamic Q&A session and collaborative discussions on regulatory requirements, stakeholder roles, resources, and monitoring. A stakeholder workshop on the implementation framework and stakeholder roles is the outcome of this meeting to happen in the next 2 weeks. Thank you to all stakeholders for your invaluable contributions, while we continue to innovate and work together for a sustainable agricultural landscape in Nigeria!

World Milkday 2024

World Milkday 2024

World Milk Day is an international day established by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to recognise the importance of milk as a global food. It has been observed on June 1 each year since 2001. With Nigeria Agribusiness Group (NABG) being the leading Policy advocacy platform for all agribusiness the DG, Mr Jafar Umar, and othe Board Members of the  NABG  participated in World Milk Day. A key highlight of the event was the launch of the Dairy Policy. The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Sabi Abdullahi, disclosed that the federal government will introduce a comprehensive dairy policy on June 4, 2024, aimed at enhancing self-sufficiency in dairy production and to diminish reliance on imports.

He disclosed that Vice President Kashim Shettima would unveil the policy, marking a significant stride toward bolstering Nigeria’s dairy sector. Stating Nigeria’s theme for the day/occasion: “Harnessing the Nutrition and Investment Opportunities in the Dairy Value Chain”, Abdullahi underscored the vital role of the dairy industry in ensuring quality nutrition, particularly for women and children. He said the forthcoming policy sought to implement various initiatives to improve dairy farming practices, foster Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), enhance animal health and boost investment in dairy processing and preservation.

Similarly, the President of the Commercial Dairy Ranchers Association of Nigeria (CODARAN) and Board Member of NABG, Muhammadu Abubakar, underscored the significance of the dairy industry for both economic prosperity and nutritional wellbeing. He called for increased investments and collaboration among industry players to propel the sector’s growth and contribute to Nigeria’s socio-economic advancement.

In conclusion, World Milk Day 2024 served as a springboard for significant developments in Nigeria’s dairy industry. The launch of the National Dairy Policy, coupled with the emphasis on harnessing the sector’s nutritional and economic potential, indicates a strong commitment from the government and industry leaders. By fostering collaboration, improving practices, and attracting investment, Nigeria appears poised to achieve self-sufficiency in dairy production and ensure a more secure and nutritious future for its citizens.

Commercial Agriculture for Smallholders and Agribusiness (CASA)

Commercial Agriculture for Smallholders and Agribusiness (CASA)

In efforts to create lasting and impact-full partnership, NABG received Ashul Sharma from  @TechnoServe implementing the Commercial Agriculture for Smallholders and Agribusiness (CASA). TA is expanding to include access to finance & access to markets for agribusiness and farmers, a model that NABG is already implementing. While we urge you to look forward to collaborating this amazing partnership with Technoserve and implementing a pilot project is not far fetched and perhaps starting later this year.