Tinubu Urges African Leaders to Invest in Agriculture

On July 10, 2023, President Bola Tinubu addressed African leaders at the 9th Africa Agriculture Science Week (AASW) and the 10th General Assembly of the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) in Abuja. He called for sustained investments in science, research, and innovation as essential tools to tackle food insecurity, climate challenges, and low agricultural productivity.

Tinubu's remarks followed a report by AKADEMIYA2063, which highlighted Africa's agricultural import bill of $122.9 billion, underscoring the continent's struggle to convert its agricultural potential into food security and economic growth. Represented by Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, Tinubu stated that nations achieve prosperity by first ensuring food security through agricultural investments.

He outlined Nigeria's agricultural transformation agenda, which focuses on creating a modern, competitive, and climate-resilient agrifood system, supported by reforms in irrigation, mechanization, access to quality seeds, and digital agriculture.