At the FANFARTECH Expo 2025, a multi-pronged strategy was unveiled to systematically address the foundational gaps in Nigeria’s agricultural sector, moving the conversation from potential to tangible, financed projects.
The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) announced a significant expansion of its agricultural interventions. Alain Thierry Mbongue, the bank’s Acting Regional Chief Operating Officer, detailed a focus that aligns with its strategic plan to shift Africa from raw commodity exports to value addition. “With agriculture contributing 30% of Africa’s GDP and employing over 60% of its workforce, the transformative potential is undeniable,” Mbongue stated.
The bank’s approach is two-fold: financing and quality assurance. Financially, it offers a suite of tailored solutions via its subsidiaries, including project preparation, long-term financing, and agribusiness insurance. To break down non-tariff barriers, Mbongue disclosed the expansion of its Africa Quality Assurance Centre (AQAC) network from Sagamu, Ogun State, to new facilities in Kaduna and Imo States, ensuring Nigerian exports meet stringent international standards.
Echoing the urgency, Dr. Emeka Obegolu, President of the Abuja Chambers of Commerce and Industry, highlighted that the nation’s productivity remains far below potential. He pushed the dialogue beyond mere food availability, stating, “Food security is about access, nutrition, and sustainability. Millions of our children still suffer from malnutrition… This must change.” He called for the wholesale adoption of mechanization, digital agriculture, and sustainable value-chain practices.
This private-sector drive is being met with governmental action. The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, represented by Alhaji Abubakar Musa, reaffirmed its commitment to agricultural transformation through innovation and technology. A key pillar is the massive N1.5 trillion recapitalization of the Bank of Agriculture, aimed at improving credit access for smallholder farmers, alongside strengthening the Nigeria Agricultural Insurance Corporation to de-risk agribusiness.
Tony Ejinkeoye, Chairman of the expo, perfectly captured the collective mission: to bridge the critical gaps between innovation and implementation, and between the farm and the market. The theme, “Technology, Finance and Sustainability in Agribusiness,” signals a unified recognition that solving interconnected challenges like climate change, post-harvest losses, and financing requires an integrated, ecosystem-wide solution.
