The Federal Government of Nigeria, alongside key development partners, has reaffirmed its dedication to advancing the country’s horticulture sector—emphasizing that innovation and collaboration are critical drivers of food security, employment, and inclusive economic empowerment.

This commitment was underscored during the 2025 Learning Event of the HortiNigeria program, held over two days in Ibadan, Oyo State. Themed “Catalysing Sustainability and Inclusion through Stakeholder Engagement in Nigeria’s Horticulture Sector,” the forum convened government officials, agribusiness leaders, state representatives, and international partners to assess progress and shape a sustainable roadmap for the sector.

HortiNigeria (2021–2025), a flagship initiative funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, is spearheaded by the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC) in partnership with the East-West Seed Knowledge Transfer Foundation, the Royal Tropical Institute (KIT), and Wageningen University & Research.

Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Aliyu Abdullahi, the Ministry’s Director of Horticulture, Mr. Yerima Ubah, highlighted the program’s transformative impact across Kaduna, Kano, Ogun, and Oyo States.

“HortiNigeria has been instrumental in fostering inclusive and sustainable growth,” Ubah stated. “We’ve recorded a 93% boost in crop yields, a 205% increase in farmer incomes, and trained over 76,000 farmers—exceeding our targets for youth and women engagement.”