Nigeria's Agriculture Agenda Emphasizes Gender Inclusion and Technology Leadership

During the Africa Agriculture Science Week in Abuja, a side event organised by the AWARD Gender Responsive Agricultural Systems Policy Fellows examined gaps in Nigeria's agricultural policies. Researchers and gender specialists, led by Professor Lateef Sanni of the Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute, called for stronger financing, clearer accountability and measurable actions to translate policy commitments for women and youth into real benefits. Professor Stella O. Odebode highlighted shortcomings such as weak participation of rural women, lack of performance indicators, inadequate land and finance access, and insufficient climate‑responsive measures.

At the opening of the 9th Africa Agriculture Science Week and the 10th FARA General Assembly, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Senator Abubakar Kyari urged Africa to shift from merely adopting agricultural technologies to generating its own innovations. He stressed that knowledge is the most valuable agricultural resource and outlined federal reforms including massive investment in irrigation, mechanisation, digital agriculture, agro‑industrialisation and finance, with future growth driven by AI, satellite technology, biotechnology and data science. The minister called on research institutions to produce tangible impacts on productivity, youth employment and climate resilience.