By Simeon Shodimu
As Nigeria positions itself to align with Africa’s new agricultural transformation agenda, stakeholders are calling for a decisive shift from policy commitments to enterprise-driven execution. At the heart of the conversation is how to turn frameworks like Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme into real, bankable opportunities that can stimulate investment, empower agribusinesses, and strengthen food systems nationwide.
Stakeholders across Nigeria’s agriculture ecosystem have renewed calls for a more practical and enterprise-focused implementation of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme, stressing the need to translate policy ambitions into scalable agribusiness opportunities.
The call was made during a high-level Partners’ Roundtable on the CAADP 2026–2035 Agenda held in Abuja, where policymakers, development partners, private sector players and civil society organisations gathered to chart a new course for Nigeria’s agrifood systems.
With the theme, “From Policy to Enterprise: Translating CAADP into Scalable Agribusiness Opportunities in Nigeria,” the dialogue underscored a longstanding challenge: the disconnect between well-crafted agricultural policies and their real-world execution.
Programme Manager at African Food Changemakers, Ms. Kachi Nwachukwu, noted that while Nigeria has demonstrated commitment by signing onto multiple agricultural frameworks, including CAADP, implementation has remained uneven and slow.
She identified systemic barriers such as limited access to finance, fragmented markets, weak value chain integration and increasing climate-related risks as major impediments to progress.
According to her, unlocking the potential of Nigeria’s agribusiness sector requires innovative financing mechanisms, particularly blended finance models that combine public and private capital. She also emphasised the importance of stronger collaboration between financial institutions and agribusiness operators, alongside inclusive financing structures that prioritise small and medium enterprises, especially women-led and rural ventures.
Nwachukwu further highlighted ongoing efforts by her organisation to support agribusinesses through targeted programmes aimed at improving export readiness, expanding market access and strengthening enterprise capacity.
In his remarks, Founder of Community Action for Food Security and co-convener of the roundtable, Mr. Azeez Salawu, described the CAADP 2026–2035 strategy as a critical opportunity to reset Africa’s agricultural trajectory.
He explained that the renewed framework is designed to drive sustainable agricultural growth, enhance food and nutrition security, and build more resilient economies across the continent.
Salawu outlined key priorities embedded in the strategy, including increased investment in agriculture, promotion of agro-industrialisation and trade, deeper inclusivity, and improved governance of agrifood systems.
However, he cautioned that a significant gap remains in translating these priorities into tangible, investment-ready opportunities that can attract capital and scale impact.
“Agribusinesses—particularly SMEs and youth-led enterprises—are central to achieving CAADP outcomes,” he said. “Yet, they continue to face persistent constraints ranging from limited access to finance and markets to inadequate technical support and restricted trade opportunities.”
He stressed that Nigeria’s growing challenges—rising food insecurity, climate shocks, youth unemployment and poor nutrition outcomes—require coordinated, well-funded responses that place enterprise development at the forefront.
The roundtable drew participation from representatives of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, development partners, civil society organisations and private sector stakeholders, all of whom echoed the urgency of moving beyond policy rhetoric to actionable solutions.
As discussions concluded, a clear consensus emerged: the success of CAADP in Nigeria will depend not on the strength of its policies alone, but on the country’s ability to foster a thriving agribusiness environment where ideas can be financed, enterprises can scale, and food systems can sustainably deliver for all.
