Godswill Akpabio has called for stronger collaboration between government, academia, financial institutions, researchers, and private sector players to address Nigeria’s food insecurity and unlock agricultural abundance.
He made the call in a keynote address at the maiden National Legislative Summit and Expo on Agricultural Colleges and Institutions held at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Represented by the Deputy Senate Majority Leader, Isa Ashiru, Akpabio said Nigeria’s agricultural future must be driven by innovation, technology, and cross-sector partnerships rather than traditional methods alone.
He stressed that no single stakeholder—government, farmers, or the private sector—can transform agriculture in isolation.
“The government alone cannot transform agriculture. Educational institutions alone cannot do it. Farmers alone cannot do it. The private sector alone cannot do it,” he said.
According to him, meaningful transformation will only happen when all stakeholders operate within an integrated ecosystem that connects research, policy, investment, and implementation.
Akpabio said Nigeria must dismantle institutional silos and strengthen collaboration between innovation and practical application in order to modernise the agricultural sector.
He emphasised that agriculture must become attractive, profitable, and technology-driven, especially for young Nigerians.
“The future farmer may operate drones, use artificial intelligence for crop analysis, deploy digital irrigation systems, and manage greenhouse technology,” he stated.
The Senate President added that the National Assembly remains committed to supporting policies that promote food security, rural development, youth employment, and agricultural industrialisation.
He warned that food insecurity poses serious risks to national stability and economic development.
“A hungry nation cannot be peaceful. A hungry people cannot be stable,” he said, adding that Nigeria must transition from subsistence production to agro-processing and export competitiveness.
In his remarks, the Director-General of the Simeon Ehui said the institute is working with the Nigerian government to develop agricultural technologies aimed at addressing hunger, poverty, malnutrition, and environmental degradation.
He highlighted ongoing initiatives, including plans to establish 774 soil testing laboratories across Nigeria and programmes focused on youth agribusiness development.
Ehui added that sustained collaboration between institutions and government would be critical in improving food systems and agricultural productivity.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agricultural Colleges and Institutions, Sharafadeen Alli, said the summit was designed to promote dialogue, innovation, and policy recommendations to strengthen agricultural institutions nationwide.
The event brought together lawmakers, researchers, development partners, investors, and students from across Nigeria and beyond to explore strategies for improving the country’s agricultural value chain.
The summit concluded with renewed calls for investment in agricultural innovation as a pathway to food security and job creation.
