CAADP Kampala Declaration Will Transform Nigeria’s Agriculture Sector — Ogunbiyi

By Onwe Wisdom, Pan Afric Reporters

The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Marcus Olaniyi Ogunbiyi, has said the Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP) Kampala Declaration (2026–2035) will drive agro-industrialisation, strengthen food systems, and promote sustainable agricultural growth across Nigeria and the African continent.

Ogunbiyi stated this during the National Stakeholders’ Consultative Workshop on the Strategic Action Plan for the Implementation of the CAADP Kampala Declaration held in Abuja on Monday, where he emphasized the need for inclusive and practical strategies capable of transforming Nigeria’s agricultural sector.

The disclosure was contained in a press release issued by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and signed by Obe M. Mabel, Assistant Chief Information Officer, for the Head of the Department of Information, on May 25, 2026.

According to Ogunbiyi, the Kampala Declaration represents a renewed commitment by African leaders to accelerate agricultural transformation, strengthen food security, and improve livelihoods across the continent.

“The Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP) Kampala Declaration (2026–2035) would ensure a fundamental shift toward agro-industrialization, value addition, resilient and sustainable food systems,” he stated.

He explained that the declaration builds on the gains of the Malabo Declaration while addressing emerging challenges such as climate change, food insecurity, economic pressures, and insecurity affecting agricultural production systems.

“The implementation of the CAADP Kampala Declaration comes at a very critical moment in our national development journey. Agriculture remains central to economic diversification, employment generation, poverty reduction, industrial growth, and national stability,” Ogunbiyi said.

The Permanent Secretary stressed that Nigeria, as Africa’s largest economy and a major agricultural producer, must align continental goals with practical national strategies capable of delivering measurable outcomes.

“As Africa’s largest economy and one of the continent’s major agricultural producers, Nigeria has a responsibility to align continental aspirations with practical national strategies capable of delivering measurable outcomes for our farmers and citizens,” he added.

He noted that the consultative workshop would provide a platform for strategic engagement and consensus-building toward developing a robust and implementable national action plan.

“The process must be inclusive, evidence-based, and result-oriented. It must also reflect the realities and priorities of our nation while aligning with regional and continental frameworks,” he said.

Ogunbiyi highlighted several ongoing reforms and investments by the Federal Government, including the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) initiative supported by the African Development Bank and other development partners.

He said the initiative is designed to connect agricultural production with processing, storage, logistics, and market access through integrated agro-industrial corridors.

The Permanent Secretary also referenced the operationalisation of the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF), which he described as a strategic financing mechanism aimed at mobilising long-term investments in agricultural value chains through public-private partnerships.

He further disclosed that the Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Service has strengthened agricultural exports by improving certification processes for 30 priority agro-commodities to meet international phytosanitary standards and access premium global markets.

Ogunbiyi urged stakeholders to contribute practical ideas and recommendations that would strengthen the Strategic Action Plan and ensure effective implementation over the next decade.

“We must collectively identify clear priorities, realistic implementation pathways, financing mechanisms, monitoring frameworks, and accountability structures that will ensure successful delivery over the next decade,” he said.

In his remarks, Oliver Kirui, Country Programme Leader of the International Food Policy Research Institute, said Nigeria has a major role to play in translating Africa’s agricultural aspirations into practical national action.

Kirui assured stakeholders that IFPRI would continue to support the Ministry and national partners in developing Nigeria’s CAADP Strategic Action Plan for implementing the Kampala Declaration.

Representatives of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa, International Fund for Agricultural Development, and the Food and Agriculture Organization were also present at the workshop.