Nigeria hosts FAO’s Hand-in-Hand Strategic Investment Forum to Accelerate Agricultural Transformation in West Africa and the Sahel
Abuja, Nigeria - As part of efforts to unlock investment opportunities in irrigation and agricultural value chains across West Africa and the Sahel, the Government of Nigeria hosted a high-level National and Subregional investment forum under the Hand-in-Hand (HiH) Initiative.
The landmark event was convened from the 16 – 18 September 2025 in Abuja Nigeria under the theme of Boosting Agricultural Investment in West Africa and the Sahel, by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in partnership with the Government of Nigeria and key regional stakeholders.
The Forum aimed to highlight investment opportunities in irrigation and priority value chains under the Sahel HiH Initiative, while mobilizing resources through stakeholder engagement and partnership-building.
Senator Kashim Shettima, Vice President of Nigeria, in his opening remarks at the national forum, emphasized that hunger is a shared human challenge that highlights the urgency of global food security. “The Forum reflects our collective commitment to scaling up agricultural solutions. Nigeria’s strength lies in its fertile land and driven youth. It is a marketplace of ideas and opportunities, a bridge between our national ambitions and your strategic investment goals. Nigeria is open for business, and we are ready for partnerships.”
For Senator Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, the forum reflects Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to agricultural transformation and climate resilience, in line with the renewed hope agenda of the Government. “The forum is the very bedrock upon which we must build a resilient and transformative agri-food system for our region”.
The Forum opened with a national session on irrigation potential in Nigeria, followed by two days of regional dialogue to foster strategic partnerships and mobilize resources for sustainable agrifood systems.
The event builds on the momentum of the Dakar+10 Declaration on Irrigation in the Sahel, which reaffirmed political will to make irrigation a driver of food sovereignty and resilience. It also aligns with the Kampala Declaration (January 2025), which outlines a continental strategy for resilient agrifood systems through 2035. Dr. Abdoulaye Mohamadou Executive Secretary of CILSS, emphasized that “our ambition is to make irrigation a true engine of food sovereignty, resilience, and prosperity for the Sahel and West Africa.”
The 10 Sahel HiH countries presented proposals totaling USD 8 billion to irrigate 1.2 million hectares, with USD 2 billion already committed. Three additional West African countries proposed USD 1.975 billion to irrigate 70,710 hectares, with USD 753 million committed and a USD 1.21 billion gap remaining.
Dr. Hussein Gadain FAO Representative in Nigeria and to ECOWAS noted that “the forum is a critical step toward mobilizing investment and achieving the goals of the Initiative.By leveraging advanced geospatial tools, data platforms, and integrated approaches, countries are empowered to mobilize investment, build resilience, and foster inclusive growth”.
FAO Subregional Coordinator for West Africa a.i. Mrs. Bintia Stephen-Tchicaya, underscored FAO’s commitment: “The Initiative represents a powerful platform for driving inclusive and evidence-based investment. This Forum is a critical step in translating regional commitments into tangible actions that strengthen agrifood systems and improve livelihoods across West Africa .”
The 140 Participants comprised Government officials from agriculture, water, finance, investment, and trade ministries across West Africa and the Sahel; representatives of regional organizations including CILSS, IWMI, and the Global Water Partnership West Africa, development partners and financial institutions including World Bank, Islamic Development Bank, IFAD, private sector actors, agribusinesses, and irrigation technology companies, universities, and international NGOs.
On their impression of the forum, private sector practitioners said commitments made are not merely aspirational, but foundational steps toward building a future where agriculture becomes the primary driver of prosperity, peace, and stability in the Sahel.
Related links
http://www.fao.org/hand-in-hand/en
https://www.fao.org/hand-in-hand/hih-investment-forum-2025/en
Contacts for more details:
IbrahimaAlassane Diallo
Communications Specialist
SFW Dakar, Senegal
Email: [email protected]
Tel. +221 77 649 83 37
David Karls Tsokar
Communication Specialist
FAO Nigeria
Email: [email protected]
Tel. +234 806 616 2876