By Simeon Shodimu
In a renewed push to tackle food insecurity and unlock the full potential of Nigeria’s agricultural economy, key stakeholders across government, research, and development institutions are closing ranks to bridge the long-standing gap between policy formulation and real-world impact.
Nigeria Aligns Policy, Research to Boost Agri-Food Sector.
Policymakers, researchers, and development partners have therefore charted a coordinated pathway for transforming Nigeria’s agri-food system, with a strong emphasis on aligning policy, evidence, and implementation to deliver measurable and sustainable impact.
This consensus emerged at a high-level policy dialogue held in Abuja, convened by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), and other key partners. The forum brought together representatives from over seven federal ministries, including Agriculture and Food Security, Water Resources, Women Affairs and Social Development, and Youth Development.
Speaking during the session, the Country Programme Leader of IFPRI-Nigeria, Oliver Kirui, described the engagement as timely, noting that cross-sectoral coordination is now imperative rather than optional.
“The session created a platform for stakeholders to align priorities, ask critical questions, and explore collaborative strategies to support one another’s efforts,” Kirui said.
He highlighted the participation of global institutions such as the World Bank and GIZ, which shared insights into ongoing interventions aimed at transforming Nigeria’s food systems.
According to him, the dialogue underscored the volume of work already in progress nationwide while stressing the need for sustained engagement. “This is not a one-off event. The goal is to maintain momentum and deepen collaboration over time,” he added.
A major focus of the dialogue was identifying priority areas requiring both policy backing and stakeholder support, with clearly defined themes expected to guide future programmes.
“The objective is straightforward but critical—transition from evidence to policy, and from policy to tangible impact,” Kirui stated, emphasising that closing policy gaps would be essential for scaling results.
The initiative aligns with Nigeria’s broader agricultural transformation agenda, particularly frameworks such as the National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy (2022–2027) and the National Development Plan (2021–2025), both of which aim to modernise the sector and improve food security.
Also speaking, CGIAR Country Convener in Nigeria, Aline Mugisho, stressed the importance of inclusive policymaking that reflects the realities of farmers and grassroots stakeholders.
“Policy must create an enabling environment for people to operate effectively. What we are building is a platform where policies are shaped not only by experts but also by inputs from local communities,” she said.
Mugisho further introduced the Policy Innovation Hub, designed as a central platform for developing and refining practical, evidence-based policies.
“It is not just a space for discussion, but for designing, testing, and improving policies based on real-world conditions,” she explained, adding that implementation would involve coordinated efforts across federal, state, and local levels using a cluster-based approach tailored to community needs.
She also underscored the importance of private sector involvement in scaling solutions, noting that partnerships must be deliberate and demand-driven to ensure sustainability and impact.
In his remarks, Director of the CGIAR Policy Innovation Programme, Clemens Breisinger, highlighted the role of continuous engagement in shaping responsive and effective policies.
“What we are promoting is a system where policy evolves through ongoing dialogue, informed by real-time evidence and grounded in local realities,” he said.
Breisinger noted that CGIAR’s policy engagement framework—currently operational in countries such as Nigeria, India, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Colombia—is designed to strengthen the link between research and practical outcomes.
Representing the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, Bukar Musa reiterated the central role of agriculture in Nigeria’s economic transformation, particularly amid prevailing economic challenges.
“We must move beyond existing policies and build on established frameworks to drive agricultural and food system transformation,” Kyari stated.
He emphasised the need for innovation, improved data systems, and increased investment, pointing out that productivity gaps remain a significant challenge.
“Policy decisions are only as strong as the data and research behind them. Strengthening the connection between policy, science, and implementation is essential,” he said.
The minister outlined key priority areas, including boosting productivity, improving market access, promoting climate-smart technologies, strengthening value chains, and enhancing food security—especially for vulnerable groups such as women and children.
He also called for stronger private sector participation, urging the government to create an enabling environment that encourages investment and supports agro-processing.
The dialogue, themed around expanding partnerships for transformative impact, is expected to produce a shared understanding of policy gaps, define research priorities beyond 2027, and deepen collaboration between government institutions and research bodies—marking a critical step toward a more resilient and productive agri-food system in Nigeria.
