By Stella Odueme
Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, has called on African countries to become global leaders in developing homegrown agricultural technologies, stressing that science, innovation and knowledge will determine the continent’s ability to achieve food security and sustainable economic growth.
Kyari made the call while declaring open the 9th Africa Agriculture Science Week (AASW) and the 10th General Assembly of the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) in Abuja on Monday.
The minister said Africa must move beyond merely adopting technologies developed elsewhere and instead generate innovations tailored to its own ecological realities, production systems and development priorities.
“Knowledge has become the most valuable agricultural resource of the twenty-first century. Our ability to harness science, technology and innovation will determine whether we achieve the agricultural transformation we seek,” Kyari said.
He noted that agriculture remains a cornerstone of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, emphasizing that food security is closely linked to national security, economic prosperity and social stability.
According to him, the Federal Government is investing heavily in irrigation, mechanization, digital agriculture, agro-industrialization and agricultural finance to transform the sector, while emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, satellite technology, biotechnology and data science will shape the future of African agriculture.
Kyari also challenged research institutions to focus on practical solutions capable of boosting productivity, creating jobs, strengthening climate resilience and improving farmers’ livelihoods rather than limiting their work to academic publications.
He described Nigeria’s hosting of the continental gathering as an opportunity for Africa to chart a bold course for agricultural transformation through research, innovation and strategic partnerships.
Also speaking, the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, said Nigeria had embarked on far-reaching reforms to modernize the livestock sector following the establishment of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development.
Maiha said the National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy and Master Plan would drive sustainable production systems, infrastructure development, value-chain expansion and improved animal health.
He invited private investors, development partners and the scientific community to explore opportunities across livestock production, processing, storage, logistics, feed production and veterinary pharmaceuticals, noting that innovation would be critical to improving livestock breeds, disease surveillance and climate-smart production.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), Dr. Abubakar Adamu Dabban, welcomed delegates to the conference, describing the event as a demonstration of Africa’s commitment to transforming agriculture through research, innovation and collaboration.
Speaking on the conference theme, “Innovations and Partnerships for Resilient and Sustainable Agrifood Systems in Africa,” Dabban said sustained investment in agricultural research and technology would strengthen food systems, improve productivity and enhance the livelihoods of millions of Africans.
Delivering a keynote presentation on the state of Africa’s agrifood systems, Managing Director of AKADEMIYA 2063, Dr. Debisi Araba, reviewed the progress of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), saying the continent had recorded significant agricultural growth since 2003 but continued to face inadequate financing, weak technology adoption and limited institutional capacity.
He urged African governments to invest in innovation, strengthen institutions and promote knowledge sharing to accelerate the implementation of the Kampala Declaration and achieve continental agricultural targets.
Chairperson of the FARA Board of Directors, Ms. Bongiwe Njobe, described the conference as Africa’s leading platform for shaping agricultural science and innovation, warning that climate change, food insecurity and environmental degradation demand stronger investments in research and inclusive innovation.
She commended Nigeria for being among the first countries to begin domesticating the Kampala Declaration and urged governments, development partners and the private sector to deepen investments that empower women, youth and vulnerable groups while strengthening financing for agricultural transformation.
Representing farmers across the continent, the Chief Executive Officer of the Pan African Farmers’ Organization (PAFO), Dr. Babafemi Oyewole, called for farmers to be treated as equal partners in agricultural research and innovation rather than passive beneficiaries.
The event attracted government officials, agricultural scientists, policymakers, innovators and development partners from across Africa.
