As posted on the Facebook page of Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, the governor yesterday shared details of his participation in the launch of the AgriConnect Compact at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, describing the occasion as an honour and an important step towards strengthening agriculture and food security in Nigeria.
The event brought together prominent Nigerian leaders and key figures from the global agricultural research and development community, including former Prime Minister of Ethiopia and newly appointed CGIAR Board Chair, H.E. Hailemariam Dessalegn Boshe; Renaud Seligmann, Chair of the CGIAR System Council; and Dr Ismahane Elouafi, Executive Managing Director of CGIAR.
According to Governor Makinde, Dr Elouafi and 14 CGIAR Directors General were in Nigeria for the organisation's board meeting, making the gathering particularly significant for Ibadan and Nigeria. CGIAR's official governance records confirm that its second Board Meeting of 2026 was held in Ibadan, Nigeria, from September 24 to 25, 2026.
At the heart of the gathering was the AgriConnect Compact, described by Governor Makinde as a national compact aimed at growing food and creating jobs by developing Nigeria's agricultural value chains.
The World Bank describes AgriConnect Country Compacts as country-led frameworks designed to transform food sectors through reforms, investments and partnerships. The initiative brings governments, development partners and the private sector together around shared agricultural priorities, including opportunities to strengthen digital agriculture, skills and other components of modern food systems.
The focus on value chains is particularly relevant to Nigeria because agricultural transformation extends far beyond what happens on the farm. Improving access to quality seeds and fertiliser, production technologies, finance, processing, storage, transportation and markets can help farmers and agribusinesses capture greater value from agricultural production.
The World Bank's AGROW project, approved for Nigeria in March 2026, is also aligned with the country's AgriConnect agenda. The six-year programme is expected to benefit up to one million smallholder farmers, strengthen seed and fertiliser systems, mobilise private investment and improve agricultural productivity. The World Bank said the project is expected to attract an additional $220 million in private agribusiness investment between 2026 and 2032.
The choice of IITA in Ibadan for such a high-level agricultural gathering also carries considerable significance. Founded in Ibadan in 1967, IITA is a CGIAR research centre working on crops and agricultural systems important to African farmers, including maize, cassava, cowpea and yam. Its Nigerian operations include extensive research facilities and programmes focused on productivity, resilience, food security and agricultural value chains.
IITA has also continued to strengthen partnerships around agricultural transformation. In June 2026, IITA-CGIAR and the University of Ibadan renewed their collaboration through a memorandum of understanding focused on agricultural transformation, research innovation and capacity development.
Governor Makinde used the occasion to appreciate Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR; H.E. Umar Namadi, Governor of Jigawa State; and the Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, for their contributions to the country's agricultural development efforts.
He also acknowledged the roles of development partners, including the World Bank Group, African Development Bank, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), IITA and others, in efforts aimed at advancing food security in Nigeria.
The event further highlights Ibadan's growing importance as a meeting point for agricultural research, policy and development partnerships. IITA has previously hosted high-level discussions involving Governor Makinde and Chief Olusegun Obasanjo on agribusiness and food security, underscoring the continuing effort to connect scientific research with practical agricultural development.
With food production, employment, private investment and agricultural value chains at the centre of the AgriConnect agenda, the initiative represents another major effort to connect Nigeria's farmers and agribusinesses with the knowledge, investment, infrastructure and markets required to build a more productive and resilient food system.
0 Comments