By successfully holding its first NADF Networking Session with Fund Managers, a forum intended to improve collaboration, increase investment participation, and unlock long-term capital for the nation’s agrifood sector, the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) has taken a significant step towards reshaping agricultural financing in Nigeria.
The session, which took place at the Oriental Hotel in Lagos under the theme “Unlocking Agribusiness Financing in Nigeria: NADF as a Catalytic Partner,” brought together top fund managers, capital market operators, investment institutions, and experts in development finance. It was a major step by NADF to place agriculture in the mainstream of investment discussions.
According to NADF, the effort is in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which emphasizes food security, job development, a high GDP, and food sovereignty as key pillars of the country’s economic stability.
In his keynote speech, Mohammed Ibrahim, the Executive Secretary of NADF, emphasized the need for structure, cooperation, and a financing strategy that can convert the agricultural sector’s enormous potential into investable and sustainable value chains.
“The National Agricultural Development Fund was established to address financing constraints and enhance food security by offering structured support to farmers and agribusinesses. Our shared goal is to unlock the full potential of Nigeria’s agriculture sector.”
He told investors and fund managers, “Partnerships with institutions like yours are vital, and our mission aligns profit with purpose.”
Muhammad pointed out that although agriculture contributes significantly to GDP and employment, it still receives a disproportionately small amount of private investment. He said that NADF is strategically positioned to help close the gap by lowering risks, bolstering value chain coordination, assisting processors through backward integration, and implementing blended financing instruments that draw in commercial capital.
