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By Vivian Emoni
The Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) says the 2025 Farm, Food and Allied Technology (FARMFATECH) Expo will boost innovation, mechanisation and partnerships to advance Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
The President of ACCI, Chief Emeka Obegolu, disclosed this at the opening ceremony of the 2nd edition of the 2025 Expo, on Monday in Abuja.
The theme of the expo is “Agricultural Transformation: Achieving Food Security through Innovative Technologies.”
Obegolu said the event, organised in collaboration with the ACCI, Autodex Nigeria Ltd. and Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, was designed to promote technology-driven solutions in the agricultural value chain.
He said that the edition, which hosted more than 500 exhibitors from 76 countries and about 500,000 visitors, was not just an exhibition, but a movement aimed at achieving food sufficiency and sovereignty in Nigeria.
According to him, the theme of this year’s edition aligns with government’s economic transformation agenda and underscores the need to modernise agriculture, strengthen food security and expand agribusiness investments.
“FARMFATECH represents our collective commitment to reposition agriculture as the bedrock of national development.
“It bridges the gap between policy and practice and between local potential and global opportunity,” he said.
The ACCI president noted that Nigeria’s agricultural sector remained a major pillar of the economy, contributing significantly to employment and Gross Domestic Product (GDP), but was still operating below its full potential.
He emphasised the need to embrace mechanised and digital farming, adding that technology had become the new tractor that drives growth, efficiency and competitiveness.
“As we open this year’s expo, let us reaffirm our resolve to make food production a national priority. A food-secure nation is a stable nation and one that feeds itself earns dignity and sovereignty.
“The expo will inspire a new wave of agricultural excellence, innovation and partnerships that will boost national productivity and export capacity,” he said.
Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Marcus Ogunbiyi, said that the theme of the expo was apt and timely, given government’s renewed focus on agricultural productivity and food sufficiency.
Ogunbiyi, represented by Alhaji Abubakar Musa, Director, Federal Food and Drug Authority in the ministry, commended the organisers for their collaboration in promoting agribusiness, trade and investment opportunities through the initiative.
According to him, the ministry is currently implementing the National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy (NATIP), aimed at strengthening digitalisation, innovation and technology in agriculture and agribusiness.
Ogunbiyi said that the policy focused on rebuilding the connection between research, science and technology to enable farmers adopt modern tools and access agritech skills for improved productivity across the value chain.
He said that the Federal Government had recapitalised the Bank of Agriculture with N1.5 trillion (about one billion dollars) to improve access to credit and financial services for small-holder farmers.
“Efforts are also ongoing to strengthen the Nigeria Agricultural Insurance Corporation to de-risk agricultural investments and provide insurance cover to farmers,” he said.
“The ministry is expanding partnerships with development agencies, multilateral bodies, and bilateral partners to mobilise funding and promote agricultural trade and technology exchange.
“Government will continue to support agribusiness investment, value addition and private sector participation to drive export growth, job creation, and sustainable economic development.
“With the continued commitment of all stakeholders, this expo will further strengthen awareness and stimulate greater action towards the transformation of Nigeria’s agricultural sector,” he said.
Mr Alain Mbongue, who represented the President of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), Dr George Elombe, said agriculture remains the cornerstone of Africa’s development, contributing to food security, job creation and industrialisation.
Mbongue said the bank’s strategic plan focuses on industrialisation and export development to reduce reliance on raw commodities and promote value addition.
Chairman, FARMFATECH Expo Planning Committee, Mr Tony Ejinkeoye, called for stronger collaboration among farmers, innovators, financial institutions and policymakers to drive agricultural transformation.
Ejinkeoye said that FARMFATECH would become a major annual agri-technology fair on the African calendar, noting that the initiative represents a step toward a more sustainable and technology-driven future for Nigerian agriculture.
Chairman of the Board of Directors, Autodex Nigeria Ltd, Dr Nnamdi Ezeanyim, said that the company aimed to reduce import dependence, create jobs, and empower Nigerian engineers. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Francis Onyeukwu
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