The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security convened the Technical Session of the 47th Regular Meeting of the National Council on Agriculture and Food Security (NCAFS) in Kaduna, bringing together state officials, research institutes, private-sector actors and development partners to chart a practical pathway toward food sovereignty.

Purpose and theme

The session, held under the theme Food Sovereignty and Food Security in an Era of Renewed Hope, is the council’s working forum for reviewing memoranda from states, ministry departments, research bodies and partners. Its remit is to produce evidence‑based recommendations that will be taken forward to the full Council meeting and converted into national policy and implementation plans.

Government framing and priorities

Dr Marcus Ogunbiyi, Permanent Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, described the Technical Session as the council’s “engine room,” where proposals are scrutinised and blended into actionable strategies. He linked the meeting to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, saying agriculture is central to Nigeria’s economic recovery and long‑term development.

Key priorities emphasised include:

• Reducing import dependence by strengthening local production across priority commodities.
• Building consensus that combines policy, research and on‑the‑ground practice.
• Value chain transformation with a focus on market access and agribusiness growth.
• Climate‑smart agriculture, extension reforms and digitalisation to boost productivity and resilience.

Role of states and Kaduna’s contribution

Kaduna State hosted the technical dialogue. Commissioner for Agriculture Murtala Mohammad Dabo welcomed delegates and highlighted Kaduna’s commitment to repositioning agriculture as an engine of opportunity, peace and prosperity under Governor Uba Sani’s leadership. Kaduna’s hosting emphasised the council’s role not just as a policy forum but as a space for sharing state‑level innovations and scalable interventions.

Participants were urged to present practical, replicable experiences—especially innovations that have delivered results in extension delivery, climate adaptation, agribusiness incubation and digital platforms for farmers.

Development partners and evidence base

Dr Ogunbiyi acknowledged the technical and financial support of development partners including FAO, IFAD, WFP, AfDB, World Bank, USAID and IFPRI. Their engagement is expected to strengthen the evidence base, finance pilot interventions and help align Nigeria’s agricultural plans with Sustainable Development Goal 2 on Zero Hunger.

The Technical Session prioritised robust, evidence‑led deliberation so that Council resolutions reflect the realities and diversity of Nigeria’s agricultural systems.

Deliverables and next steps

The session featured the presentation of memoranda from ministry project departments, state offices and research institutes. These memoranda will be scrutinised, synthesised and used to craft policy recommendations for the full NCAFS meeting scheduled later in the week.

Officials called on participants to focus on measurable outcomes and implementation pathways—how recommended reforms will translate into investments, extension support, climate resilience measures and private‑sector engagement at scale.

Implication for farmers and agribusiness

For smallholder farmers and agribusinesses, the Technical Session signals a renewed push to:

• Scale climate‑smart practices and digital tools through strengthened extension services.
• Open pathways for agribusiness growth and market linkages that reduce waste and boost incomes.
• Align state and federal programmes so interventions are locally relevant and nationally coherent.

Conclusion

The Kaduna Technical Session set a practical, action‑oriented tone for the 47th NCAFS, prioritising consensus, evidence and implementation. With states, research institutions and development partners in close collaboration, Nigeria aims to accelerate its shift from import reliance toward a more resilient, sovereign food system.