AAD seeks to drive investments, boost agric growth
Recognising the need to boost investments in food production, the Africa Agriculture Dialogue (AAD) 2025, is seeking to boost agricultural growth and investments across the African continent.
AAD 2025 is bringing high-level stakeholders, including the government leaders, private sector actors, financial institutions, development partners and civil society to unlock finance for Africa’s agricultural transformation and inclusive growth.
The AAD 2025 aims to spotlight Africa’s agricultural priorities and elevate the continent’s voice on the global stage, serving as a precursor to the prestigious World Food Prize that will hold in the United States. It is set to take place on October 7 and 8 at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Nigeria.
At a virtual press conference recently, Idris Ajimobi, senior special assistant to the President on Livestock Development, emphasised that the government is intensifying its efforts to transform Nigeria’s livestock sector—a critical pillar for food security, employment generation, and economic diversification.
These efforts, he said, are being spearheaded by the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development (FMLD).
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A cornerstone of this transformation, he noted, is the recent launch of the National Livestock Master Plan (N-LMP), a five-year strategic investment framework.
Developed in collaboration with the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES) and international partners, the plan seeks to attract public and private investments into key livestock value chains, including cattle, poultry, and small ruminants.
According to Ajimobi, it also outlines targeted interventions in animal breeding, health services, and market access.
He noted that the government is actively promoting the development of ranches and integrated crop-livestock settlements as part of efforts to move away from traditional nomadic grazing.
“This transition to sedentary farming systems is not just about improving productivity,” he said, “it is also a deliberate strategy to reduce conflict over grazing land.”
To improve the safety and traceability of livestock products, Ajimobi revealed that the ministry is implementing a national mass animal tagging programme, aiming to identify and track millions of animals across the country.
“This, along with enhanced veterinary services and the control of transboundary pests, is expected to significantly improve animal health standards and help Nigeria meet international export requirements.”
In addition, he highlighted the government’s focus on reducing poverty and creating jobs—particularly for youth and women—through targeted training and support programmes.
Speaking on the upcoming AAD 2025 programme, Richard-Mark Mbaram said, “The Africa Agriculture Dialogue 2025 is an event that takes place prior to the World Food Prize every year, and basically sets out to capture narratives and conversational issues that relate to Africa and project them on the world stage.”
The World Food Prize, he said, is the Nobel of Agriculture. “It is a gathering of all stakeholders in the agricultural sector worldwide.”
