A United Push To Safeguard The Future Of Nigeria’s Food
Nigeria has great agricultural potential. With over 70 million hectares of arable land, a vibrant and youthful population, and a backbone of smallholder farmers who produce more than 80 per cent of the nation’s food, the building blocks for food security are in place. Yet, according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation, more than 33 million Nigerians are projected to be food insecure in 2025.
Today, our food system faces urgent and complex challenges weather patterns, high production costs, limited access to inputs, and market constraints. And while no single actor can solve these issues alone, there is growing momentum to do something together.
That momentum was on full display recently at the National Stakeholders’ Dialogue on Food Security in Abuja, hosted by One Acre Fund Nigeria. Under the theme “Achieving Food Security in Nigeria: Bridging the Gap”, the event brought together over 200 participants from across the agricultural sector: government leaders, innovators, agribusiness players, researchers, development partners, and, most importantly, farmers.
The message was clear: food security is not the responsibility of one actor; it is a shared mission that calls for collaborative action, rooted in effective implementation and driven by inclusion.
Nigeria has access to many exciting agricultural innovations, from quality farm inputs like drought-resistant seeds to sustainable post-harvest solutions such as solar-powered cold storage. But for too many smallholder farmers, these advances remain out of reach. No matter how powerful, innovation only drives change when it is accessible to the people who need it.
We do not just need to expand innovation; we need to make it inclusive. That means supporting smart technologies the same way we support access to other farm inputs like fertilisers. It means investing in rural supply chains, youth-led agritech startups, and last-mile extension services that bring solutions directly to farmers and improve our food supply chain.
When a farmer in Jos or Kebbi can access such innovations easily and affordably, we start to level the playing field. Innovation should not be a privilege, it should be a practical tool that makes farming more productive, sustainable, and rewarding for every farmer.
Floods, droughts, and rising temperatures threaten the productivity and livelihoods of Nigeria’s smallholder farmers. These shocks are reducing crop yields, destroying livelihoods, and making it harder for families to put food on the table.
To protect farmers and our national food supply, all stakeholders must rally behind regenerative practices that restore soil health.
At One Acre Fund, the organisation I work for, we have partnered with farmers to plant over 9.5 million trees across Nigeria.
Through agroforestry, farmers improve soil fertility, prevent erosion, and build resilience to changing weather patterns. Still, this is only the beginning. We must scale regenerative agriculture, invest in soil restoration, and protect vital ecosystems. Agricultural resilience must become a national priority because the goal isn’t just to weather today’s storms, it’s to grow a more secure and sustainable agricultural future for Nigeria.
Smallholder farmers are some of Nigeria’s most determined and hardworking individuals. They are not just growing food to survive, they are striving to build better lives, start small businesses, and uplift their families and communities.
To unlock their full potential, we must shift our perspective. Farming is not a last-resort option linked to poverty and hardship; it is a source of livelihood, entrepreneurship, and a powerful driver of community development. Recognising and investing in farmers is not just an act of support, but also a strategic move for Nigeria’s food security, rural development, and inclusive economic progress. When farmers succeed, we all do.
The Abuja dialogue reminded us that Nigeria has what it takes. We have talent, tools, and tenacity, it is time to align them around shared action.
So, where do we go from here?
Government leaders need to prioritise the implementation of inclusive agricultural policies, accompanied by dedicated budgets and accountability structures that effectively reach the last mile. The private sector should view smallholder farmers not just as end-users, but as strategic partners and entrepreneurs worth investing in. Development partners should support scalable, locally driven solutions that directly benefit farmers. We invite civil society and farmer organisations to continue pushing for systems that put farmers’ voices and needs at the centre.
The momentum is here. Let’s turn it into measurable progress by investing in innovation that reaches everyone, in regenerative practices that protect productivity, and in seeing farmers not just as beneficiaries, but as leaders of change.
Kazi Nanyah is a communications specialist with One Acre Fund Nigeria