As part of her mission to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Executive Director of the African Agricultural Transformation Initiative (AATI), Ms. Safia Boly paid a courtesy call to the Honorable Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, to discuss opportunities for agricultural transformation in Nigeria.
Key issues discussed during the visit were Food Security Monitoring and favorable agricultural transformation policies. The Minister appreciated the AATI’s technical expertise and expressed readiness to deepen the engagement with the Initiative to bring global approaches and best practices that support efforts in addressing food security gaps.
Engagement with the Governor of Jigawa State
In Jigawa State, the Executive Director met with His Excellency Governor Mallam Umar Namadi to discuss the state’s agricultural potential and the opportunities for AATI to support the rice and wheat value chains. H.E Govenor Mallam Umar Namadi, indicated: “Agriculture is the backbone of Jigawa State’s economy, accounting for around 46% of total GDP. With more than 80% arable land and nearly 400,000 hectares of Fadama wetlands, we have the ideal environment for agricultural success. This is completely in sync with our 12-point agenda for economic reform. I’m committed to working with AATI to implement projects that would enhance agricultural productivity and improve the livelihoods of farmers in the state.”
Engagement with the Governor of Niger State
The AATI, Executive Director also met with Niger State Governor, His Excellency Mohammed Umaru Bago. The discussions focused on the state’s agricultural development plans and the role of AATI in supporting the maize and rice value chains and advancing efforts for the further development of irrigation systems.
H.E Governor Mohamed Umaru Bago reiterated his administration’s dedication to transforming the agricultural sector and welcomed AATI’s support in achieving this goal.
The visit by AATI to Nigeria marks a significant step towards fostering partnerships that will drive agricultural transformation in the country. By working closely with federal and state governments, AATI aims to implement sustainable agricultural interventions that will not only increase food production but also contribute to economic growth and poverty alleviation.
