Partnering with FMAFS to scale innovation for food security in Nigeria

10 January 2024

The Nigeria Ministry for Agriculture and Food Security is set to collaborate with IITA to scale technologies as part of measures to implement the government’s 8-point agenda.

Minister for Agriculture and Food Security Honorable Abubakar Kyari with the outgoing Permanent Secretary Dr. Ernest Umakhihe, IITA Director General Dr. Simeon Ehui, and the IITA team during the meeting.
Minister for Agriculture and Food Security Honorable Abubakar Kyari with the outgoing Permanent Secretary Dr. Ernest Umakhihe, IITA Director General Dr. Simeon Ehui, and the IITA team during the meeting.

During a recent visit to the office of the Minister for Agriculture and Food Security, Honorable Abubakar Kyari, in Abuja, IITA Director General and Regional Director for CGIAR in Africa, Dr Simeon Ehui, said the Institute values the strong support of the Nigerian government and would like to align with the national programs.

“I would like for the national programs to be key partners with IITA, leveraging the research innovations to address food insecurity in Nigeria,” said Dr Ehui.

In his welcome remarks, the Honorable Minister revealed that the visit came at a time when the Ministry is exploring proven ways to turn around food systems in the country, adding that there is a need to look at sustainable strategies that would help initiate strong institutionalized policies.

Minister for Agriculture and Food Security Honorable Abubakar Kyari with IITA Director General and CGIAR Regional Director for Continental Africa Dr. Simeon Ehui.
Minister for Agriculture and Food Security Honorable Abubakar Kyari with IITA Director General and CGIAR Regional Director for Continental Africa Dr. Simeon Ehui.

“With IITA’s grounded agricultural research, the Ministry is ready to collaborate with the Institute to address food insecurity,” he said.

Dr Ehui enjoined the Minister to work through IITA to adopt innovations to change Nigeria’s food systems’ narrative. He revealed that IITA’s technologies and those of other CGIAR centers are available to contribute to Nigeria’s agricultural landscape, but noted that Nigeria alone cannot address issues existing in the sector. IITA is willing to provide support through the various projects and innovations that can be scaled by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS).

(L-R) IITA Deputy Director General Partnership for Delivery Dr. Kenton Dashiell, Minister for Agriculture and Food Security Honorable Abubakar Kyari, IITA Director General and CGIAR Regional Director for Continental Africa Dr. Simeon Ehui and outgoing Permanent Secretary Dr. Ernest Umakhihe.
(L-R) IITA Deputy Director General Partnership for Delivery Dr. Kenton Dashiell, Minister for Agriculture and Food Security Honorable Abubakar Kyari, IITA Director General and CGIAR Regional Director for Continental Africa Dr. Simeon Ehui and outgoing Permanent Secretary Dr. Ernest Umakhihe.

Commending IITA’s research impact in Africa, Hon Kyari said there is a need to explore agriculture as a business to create investment opportunities for more people. He added that the way forward would be for both parties to develop a strategy paper covering long-, medium-, and short-term targets.

Following discussions on designing the next steps, IITA will provide a roadmap with timelines to commence the initial phase of working with a technical team to be constituted by the Ministry.

Contributed by Timilehin Osunde