At the ongoing Africa Forward Summit 2026 held on 12 May 2026 in Nairobi, Nigeria strengthened its strategic partnership with the International Fund for Agricultural Development through a successful high-level bilateral meeting between the Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Food Security and Chair of the IFAD 49th Governing Council, Abubakar Kyari, and the President of IFAD, Alvaro Lario. The meeting was also attended by the IFAD West and Central Africa Regional Director, Bernard Hien.
The bilateral engagement focused on deepening collaboration between Nigeria and IFAD in advancing inclusive agrifood systems transformation, strengthening food security, promoting rural economic development, and improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers across the country. Discussions also highlighted ongoing and emerging opportunities for investment in climate-smart agriculture, youth empowerment, agribusiness development, and rural infrastructure under IFAD-supported programmes in Nigeria.
A key highlight of the meeting was Nigeria’s strong support for the IFAD14 replenishment process, aimed at mobilizing greater resources to scale up agricultural transformation and resilience-building efforts across developing countries. Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to sustaining the longstanding partnership between Nigeria and IFAD and accelerating impactful interventions that contribute to national development priorities and global food security goals.
The engagement further underscored Nigeria’s leadership role in regional and global agricultural development discussions, while reinforcing IFAD’s commitment to supporting the country’s efforts towards building a more resilient, productive, and inclusive agrifood system.
