Senate President Godswill Akpabio has called for stronger collaboration between government, academia, researchers, financial institutions, development partners, technology experts, agribusiness investors, and farmers to turn Nigeria’s food insecurity challenges into agricultural abundance.
He made the appeal during his keynote address at the maiden National Legislative Summit and Expo on Agricultural Colleges and Institutions, held at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, themed on unlocking the potential of agricultural institutions through collaboration and innovation for food security and job creation.
Represented by Deputy Senate Majority Leader Isa Ashiru, Akpabio said the future of agriculture will no longer depend on traditional tools alone, but on modern systems such as research, technology, mechanisation, biotechnology, data-driven farming, irrigation science, climate adaptation, and innovation-led productivity.
He stressed that no single sector can transform agriculture alone, noting that meaningful progress will only come when all stakeholders operate within a unified ecosystem that removes institutional barriers and strengthens cooperation between research, policy, and implementation.
Akpabio further emphasised the importance of innovation, saying 21st-century agricultural challenges cannot be solved with outdated methods. He added that agriculture must be repositioned as a profitable and attractive venture, especially for young Nigerians, powered by technology such as drones, artificial intelligence, digital irrigation systems and greenhouse farming.
According to him, the National Assembly remains committed to supporting policies that drive food security, rural development, youth employment, and agricultural industrialisation, warning that hunger poses a serious threat to national stability and productivity.
He noted that Nigeria must move beyond subsistence farming to agro-processing and export-oriented production, shifting from dependence to competitiveness while unlocking the country’s full agricultural potential.
Speaking at the event, Director-General of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Simeon Ehui, said Nigeria can achieve major breakthroughs in food security through sustained partnerships and bold reforms.
He explained that IITA works with partners across Africa to develop agricultural technologies that address hunger, malnutrition, poverty, and environmental degradation, while improving food and nutrition security and creating employment opportunities.
Ehui disclosed ongoing initiatives, including a partnership with the Nigerian government to establish 774 soil testing laboratories, as well as youth-focused agribusiness programmes in collaboration with the Ministries of Agriculture and Youth Development.
He expressed optimism that continued cooperation between stakeholders would deliver lasting improvements in agricultural productivity and food systems.
Also speaking, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agricultural Colleges and Institutions, Sharafadeen Alli, said the summit serves as a platform for dialogue, strategic partnerships, innovation exchange, and policy recommendations aimed at strengthening agricultural institutions across the country.
