Nigeria has launched the AgriConnect Compact, a national initiative designed to strengthen agricultural value chains by connecting production with infrastructure, research, finance, processing, logistics and markets.

The initiative was launched at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Ibadan, Oyo State, bringing together government officials, development partners, research institutions, financial institutions and private-sector stakeholders.

The Federal Government, Oyo State Government and World Bank Group are supporting the initiative, which aims to coordinate existing agricultural programmes and investments rather than establish another standalone delivery structure.

Agriculture and Food Security Minister Abubakar Kyari said Nigeria already had substantial investments across areas such as irrigation, rural roads, research, finance, land restoration, processing and market access. However, he said the impact of these interventions could be weakened when they operate independently.

The AgriConnect Compact is intended to address these gaps by improving coordination between programmes and ensuring that investments across the agricultural value chain work together.

Kyari said priorities would include irrigation and rural infrastructure, mechanisation, research and extension services, digital agriculture, stronger market systems and agricultural finance. The framework will also seek to improve the policy and regulatory environment for businesses and strengthen access to capital.

The minister stressed that the initiative was not primarily about creating new projects, but about connecting existing programmes and closing gaps that prevent farmers and agricultural businesses from benefiting fully from investment.

“Better inputs and technology must translate into higher productivity. Higher production must have a route to aggregation, storage, processing and markets,” Kyari said.

He added that the Federal Government wanted agriculture to become increasingly private-sector led, with government providing the policy, regulatory and infrastructure environment needed to support investment.

Linking Production to Markets

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde said Nigeria had many of the ingredients required for agricultural transformation, including farmers, research institutions, young entrepreneurs, fertile land and a large domestic market.

However, he noted that many farmers remained poor, food prices were high and significant volumes of agricultural produce were lost before reaching consumers.

Makinde said increasing production alone would therefore not be enough. Agricultural development would need to connect production with rural roads, security, research, extension, finance, storage, processing, logistics and markets.

He pointed to Oyo State’s Agricultural Transformation Centre at Fasola as an example of an integrated agribusiness approach, bringing together production, processing, infrastructure and investment.

The governor also called for stronger involvement from state and local governments, which play important roles in areas such as land administration, rural infrastructure, extension services and local security.

He said the agricultural sector should also create credible opportunities for young Nigerians by providing pathways into income generation, entrepreneurship, technology and professional careers.

Former Ethiopian Prime Minister and newly appointed CGIAR Board Chair Hailemariam Dessalegn Boshe said Nigeria’s agricultural transformation had significance beyond the country because of its size and influence within Africa.

He called for government leadership to be combined with practical agricultural science and stronger cooperation among governments, researchers, development partners, financial institutions and businesses.

Dessalegn also emphasised the need to improve access to quality inputs, finance and reliable markets while ensuring that women and young people could participate fully in agricultural value chains.

Focus on Implementation and Jobs

Jigawa State Governor Umar Namadi said the success of the Compact would ultimately depend on implementation and measurable results.

He highlighted mechanisation, research and extension, value addition, digital services and market access as important components of agricultural transformation, noting that national strategies must translate into practical support for farmers and businesses at state and community level.

The launch also coincided with the first CGIAR Board meeting held in Nigeria, with representatives from CGIAR, the World Bank Group, African Development Bank, International Fund for Agricultural Development, IITA and other development and research institutions attending.

The AgriConnect agenda is expected to strengthen connections between farmers and markets while supporting productivity, processing, infrastructure, agricultural finance and employment.

The World Bank has identified approximately 2.56 million direct jobs among the targets associated with Nigeria’s AgriConnect agenda, highlighting the initiative’s broader role in linking agricultural development with employment and economic growth.