By Felicia Imohimi
The Federal Government, in collaboration with ActionAid Nigeria and development partners, has unveiled the 2025–2030 Revised National Gender Policy on Agrifood Systems Transformation and its Strategic Action Plan.
The policy is aimed at promoting equitable access to agricultural resources, opportunities and decision-making across the agrifood value chain.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, said at the unveiling on Tuesday in Abuja that the initiative marked a major step towards building an inclusive, productive and sustainable agricultural sector.
Kyari, represented by his Minister of State, Sen. Aliyu Abdullahi, said agriculture remained central to Nigeria’s priorities in driving food security, employment and economic growth.
He, however, noted that persistent gender disparities continued to limit the full participation of women, who play key roles across the agrifood value chain.
“Addressing this challenge is not optional; it is essential to achieving our national development goals,” he said.
Kyari explained that the policy provides a practical framework for ensuring equitable access to resources and opportunities for both women and men, while strengthening gender-responsive approaches in agricultural programmes.
“The success of this policy will depend on effective implementation. We must move from commitment to action.
“I call on all relevant institutions and stakeholders to integrate this policy into their plans, programmes and budgets, while ensuring strong monitoring and accountability mechanisms,” he said.
He added that building a resilient and food-secure nation required inclusive participation, stressing that equitable agrifood systems were both economically beneficial and socially just.
In his remark, Sen. Aliyu Abdullahi, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security said the policy focused on addressing the roles, opportunities and challenges faced by women in ensuring national food security.
He described the unveiling as a milestone in efforts to promote inclusive agricultural development and ensure that no segment of the population was left behind.
According to him, gender mainstreaming remains critical to unlocking the sector’s full potential.
“We are committed to ensuring that the concerns of both women and men are integrated into the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of agricultural policies and programmes,” he said.
The Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, Dr Andrew Mamedu, said the unveiling was a defining moment in Nigeria’s journey towards an inclusive and resilient agrifood system.
Represented by Mrs Olufunke Olukeye, Director of People and Culture, he said the policy reflected Nigeria’s commitment to placing gender equity and social inclusion at the centre of agrifood transformation.
“It recognises men, women, youth and persons with disabilities as key actors in driving food security, livelihoods and national development,” he said.
Mamedu, who also chairs the National Gender Steering Committee, said the policy was developed through extensive consultations involving government, civil society, development partners, the private sector and farming communities.
He emphasised that its implementation would require political will, adequate funding, strong institutions and accountability at all levels.
“This unveiling is a call to action. We must translate this policy into concrete programmes, inclusive budgets and measurable outcomes,” he said.
Also speaking, the Country Director of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), Dr Rufus Idris, pledged support for the policy.
Idris, who spoke on behalf of development partners, said gender inclusion was critical to transforming Africa’s food systems.
Similarly, Dr Nkiruka Okonkwo, National Consultant on the policy review, said the framework was designed to eliminate structural inequalities and institutional barriers to gender inclusion.
She said it was built around six strategic objectives, including ensuring equitable access to agrifood resources, services, technologies and opportunities, as well as institutionalising gender-responsive planning and budgeting.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event was organised by ActionAid Nigeria under its Inclusive Food Systems Project, supported by the German International Cooperation (GIZ).
The policy is expected to strengthen commitments to equitable participation across the agricultural value chain. (NAN) www.nannews.ng
Edited by Tosin Kolade
