The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Agribusiness and Productivity Enhancement, Dr. Kingsley Uzoma, together with the AgPE-Project Management Office Lead Advisor, participated in the Africa Food Systems Forum (AFS) 2025 in Dakar, Senegal. The Forum is Africa’s premier platform for advancing agricultural transformation, bringing together leaders from governments, development partners, the private sector, researchers, and youth champions to accelerate progress on food security and inclusive growth. In his opening remarks, Dr. Uzoma presented Nigeria’s position on the centrality of soil health in food systems transformation, emphasizing sustainable intensification, innovation, and inclusivity as priorities for strengthening resilience and productivity. At the Soil Values side-event, “From the Ground Up; Scaling Soil Health Solutions for Planet and People,” he also spoke on strategies to scale soil fertility solutions and embed youth and gender participation. Since its inception in 2006, the Forum has evolved into the most influential convening on food and agriculture in Africa, serving as a unique space where policies, finance, research, and innovation intersect. This year’s theme, “Africa’s Youth Leading Collaboration, Innovation, and Implementation of Agri-Food Systems Transformation,” highlighted the pivotal role of young people in shaping the continent’s agricultural future. Alongside this, they held bilateral and multilateral engagements with global stakeholders, refocusing discussions on agribusiness and agriculture. These sessions provided avenues for knowledge exchange, partnership building, and collaborative action to advance sustainable agricultural transformation across Africa.

The AgPE-PMO met with the Federal Department of Development Partners Projects (FD-DPP) Project Coordinating Unit to strengthen collaboration on national agriculture priorities. Discussions focused on building a clear roadmap for continuous engagement, with particular emphasis on capacity building, smart agriculture solutions, and stronger alignment across donor-funded projects. Both sides underscored the importance of working closely on gender inclusion, youth empowerment, monitoring and evaluation, and knowledge sharing. Commitments were made to establish regular engagement platforms, support the adoption of innovative tools, and improve collaboration on linkages to development partner programs. This partnership sets the stage for stronger coordination, better use of resources, and more inclusive outcomes for Nigeria’s agricultural transformation.

Further to your earlier invitation to the Nigeria–EU Cocoa Roundtable on EUDR Compliance, we are pleased to inform you that a virtual participation option is now available for those unable to attend in person. Date: Monday, 11 August 2025Time: 10:00 AM – 4:45 PM (WAT)Zoom Link: https://us05web.zoom.us/j/84596486051?pwd=URp9GdbO9xOi5EYIy4RoXF2RdbcrYJ.1 You may join the proceedings at any time using the link above. This option ensures that all stakeholders can follow the discussions and contribute to this important dialogue on strengthening Nigeria’s cocoa value chains for EUDR compliance. We look forward to your participation. Yours sincerely,Project Management OfficeAgribusiness and Productivity EnhancementOffice of the Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria

We are live!The Nigeria–EU Cocoa Roundtable on EUDR Compliance is underway, bringing together stakeholders to strengthen Nigeria’s cocoa value chains and align with EU market requirements. Date: Monday, 11 August 2025Time: 10:00 AM – 4:45 PM (WAT)Join virtually: https://lnkd.in/dNCe83hT Be part of this important dialogue, driving compliance, sustainability, and growth for Nigeria’s cocoa sector. hashtag#CocoaRoundtable hashtag#EUDR hashtag#Agribusiness hashtag#Sustainability hashtag#NigeriaEU

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Agribusiness and Productivity Enhancement, Dr. Kingsley Uzoma (PhD), has highlighted Nigeria’s commitment to transforming cocoa production through science-driven, sustainable practices. He explained that ongoing fertilizer research and soil improvement initiatives will enable farmers to quadruple yields, attract major global buyers, and position Nigeria as a dependable partner in the international cocoa market. Dr. Uzoma noted that the government is investing heavily in research and collaboration, working with institutions like the Nigerian Institute for Cocoa Research and IITA. Through the CocoaSoils program, a Research for Development (R4D) and Partnership for Delivery (P4D) initiative led by IITA in partnership with Wageningen University and Research, Nigeria is advancing Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) solutions for cocoa farmers. This program develops and shares site-specific recommendations that increase yields, improve livelihoods, and prevent deforestation, with activities spanning Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, and Côte d’Ivoire. With over 300,000 smallholder cocoa farmers, the administration’s priority is to raise productivity from the current average of 400–500 kg per hectare to 1,500–2,000 kg per hectare. This approach will further increase incomes and strengthen cocoa communities while ensuring long-term sustainability by helping farmers get more from existing farmland rather than expanding into forested areas.

Dr. Kingsley Uzoma, PhD, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Agribusiness and Productivity Enhancement (AgPE), alongside Dr. Sanjo Faniran, the National Convenor of UN Food Systems Nigeria, and Engr. Maharu Aeni Fuja, the Technical Assistant on Partnerships to the Hon. Minister of Agriculture, spotlighted Nigeria’s bold commitments at the UN Food Systems Summit +4 (UNFSS+4) held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (July 27–29, 2025). The delegation emphasized Nigeria’s commitment to inclusive growth, youth employment, and strengthened rural economies through deliberate, well-structured public-private collaboration. In closing, Dr Kingsley concluded the discussion by pointing out that Nigeria is not just participating in global food dialogues but leading the transformation. Watch the highlights from Nigeria’s engagement at the Summit here:https://lnkd.in/dfDqhKQG

Early this year, the Agribusiness and Productivity Enhancement Project Management Office (AgPE-PMO), operating under the Office of the Vice President, held a strategic working session with Sahel Consulting in Abuja. The meeting, held with Aisha Hadejia, Partner at Sahel Consulting, served as a collaborative platform to review project progress and explore opportunities within the agricultural coordination ecosystem. Discussions focused on evaluating the national program landscape, identifying strategic touchpoints for alignment, and refining engagement strategies to strengthen delivery across key interventions. Drawing on Sahel’s extensive experience in advancing priority value chains, the conversation provided clarity on implementation bottlenecks and helped shape a roadmap for deeper engagement with subnational actors and development partners. This engagement reaffirms our shared commitment to delivering measurable impact in Nigeria’s agricultural sector.

As part of the Strategic Agricultural Initiative Mapping, the Agribusiness and Productivity Enhancement Project Management Office (AgPE-PMO) recently visited Edo State. Represented by Dr. Tahir Dalorima, PMO Crop Advisor, we engaged with the Edo State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to strengthen alignment on national and state-level priorities. The meeting featured insightful discussions on potential areas of collaboration and key updates on priority agricultural projects across the state. The Ministry’s responsiveness and strong institutional commitment were evident, with liaison officers appointed to support ongoing coordination. We look forward to continued engagement with project stakeholders as we work together to drive impactful, locally led agricultural transformation.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Agribusiness and Productivity Enhancement, Dr. Kingsley Uzoma (PhD), joined His Excellency, the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Sen. Kashim Shettima, GCON, in representing Nigeria at the Second United Nations Food Systems Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. In his remarks, Dr. Uzoma highlighted the opportunity for cost-effective, localized food production to enhance sustainability and reduce dependency on distant supply chains.He noted that many of the staple crops consumed in Mauritania and the Central African Republic are also grown in Northern Nigeria, making the case for regional sourcing that is not only efficient but culturally aligned. He explained that producing food locally empowers communities, reduces the size of vulnerable populations needing direct support, and frees up resources for broader impact. He cited the Pfumvudza model from Zimbabwe, where a $50 investment on a small 16m by 39m plot (0.016 hectares) has enabled families to produce enough maize to feed six people for a year, demonstrating how targeted, low-cost farming systems can deliver sustainable, community-level food security. The summit provided a strategic platform for Nigeria to amplify its leadership voice, deepen regional collaboration on food systems, and champion scalable, African-led solutions to food insecurity. Watch excerpts from the session here: https://lnkd.in/dPFfb8vi

On July 22, 2025, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (Minister of State for Agriculture), Dr. Kingsley Uzoma, PhD (SSA to the President on Agribusiness, Office of the Vice President), Prof. Chiedozie Egesi (CEO, NRCRI), and Kabir Shagaya (Director of Strategy, Cavista Holdings) featured on Nigerian Television Authority’s Tuesday Live to discuss “Exploring Nigeria’s Cassava Potential: A Shift from Oil Dependency.” Together, they examined how cassava can drive industrialization, reduce import dependence, and open new markets for value-added agricultural exports. Insights from the programme underscored cassava’s potential to generate significant value across industrial and commercial segments, including ethanol, sweeteners, high-quality flour, and starch. “With the right combination of policy coordination, improved yields, investment in processing infrastructure, and strong private sector participation, cassava can become a significant contributor to inclusive economic growth and rural industrialization in Nigeria.” This national conversation follows the recent World Cassava Day celebration hosted by the Office of the Vice President, Federal Republic Of Nigeria (Agribusiness & Productivity Enhancement) at the State House Banquet Hall. The event had brought renewed attention to cassava as a vital sector for Nigeria’s economic diversification agenda. Concrete steps are already underway to translate this momentum into action through stronger policy alignment, increased private-sector collaboration, and coordinated investments across the value chain. Watch the session here: https://lnkd.in/dc-d5Gw5