Dangote Industries Limited has restated its commitment to expanding investments in Northern Nigeria’s agricultural sector, in alignment with the government’s agenda to strengthen food security, boost agricultural productivity and create employment opportunities.

A statement from Mr Anthony Chiejina, Group Chief, Branding and Corporate Communication of the company, said Dangote Group is deepening its commitment to Nigeria’s agricultural transformation through strategic investments in mechanised agriculture, advancing major rice milling projects in northern states, alongside sugar backward-integration investments.

Chiejina quoted the company’s Regional Director and Senior Adviser to the Group President, Mrs Fatima Wali-Abdurrahman, as saying: “These initiatives are designed to strengthen domestic food production, stimulate agro-industrial development, create employment and unlock the vast agricultural potential of Northern Nigeria.”

Wali-Abdurrahman said the Group’s fertiliser business represents a major contribution to Nigeria’s agricultural development, providing locally manufactured inputs that can help farmers improve productivity, enhance soil fertility and increase crop yields.

She disclosed that Dangote Industries Limited (DIL) is sponsoring the 2026 National Agricultural Show, scheduled to open on Monday, as part of its continued efforts to support and advance agricultural development in Nigeria.

The Agricultural Show, organised under the auspices of the National Agricultural Foundation of Nigeria, will be formally declared open by Sen. Abubakar Kyari, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security.

Chiejina said the Group’s engagement also places emphasis on inclusive participation, particularly by encouraging greater involvement of women and young people, who remain essential to the future of agriculture and agribusiness in Nigeria.

He said the Group’s vision is to contribute to a more productive, competitive and self-sufficient agricultural sector, positioning Nigeria to harness its enormous agricultural potential, strengthen food security and become a major player in Africa’s agricultural economy.

Meanwhile, speaking to newsmen in Abuja, National Coordinator, National Agricultural Foundation of Nigeria (NAFN) Hajiya Aishatu Ibrahim, said this year’s Show is guided by the theme: Building a Resilient Nigerian Agrifood System: Empowering Farmers, Mobilising Investment and Driving Innovation for Food Security and Shared Prosperity.

Ibrahim said: “This year’s Agric Show is unique because it goes beyond the traditional exhibition of agricultural products. It provides a strategic platform for connecting farmers, investors, policymakers, technology providers and other stakeholders to develop practical solutions to Nigeria’s food security challenges.’’

She described NAFN’s relationship with the Dangote Group as instrumental to its success in fostering private-sector partnerships that support Nigeria’s drive for agricultural development, industrialisation and food security.

“The Dangote Group remains an important reference point in Nigeria’s investment landscape, and we appreciate its contributions to the country’s economic development.

“The message of the Foundation to Alhaji Aliko Dangote is to urge him to continue to expand his investment footprints in Nigeria’s agricultural sector. His experience in large-scale industrial investment can help transform agriculture through mechanisation, agro-processing, storage, logistics and commodity production.

“The country needs more indigenous investors of his calibre to see agriculture not merely as farming but as a major business opportunity capable of generating wealth, creating jobs and securing Nigeria’s food future,” she said.(NAN)
Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz