The National Agricultural Development Fund has taken a major step toward reshaping agricultural financing in Nigeria by hosting its first NADF Networking Session with Fund Managers. The forum was created to strengthen partnerships, deepen investment participation and unlock long-term capital for the country’s agrifood sector. Held at the Oriental Hotel in Lagos, the session focused on the theme ‘Unlocking Agribusiness Financing in Nigeria: NADF as a Catalytic Partner’ and brought together fund managers, capital market operators, investment institutions and development finance experts.
According to NADF, the initiative supports President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which places food security, employment creation, high GDP and food sovereignty at the center of national economic stability. The Executive Secretary of NADF, Mohammed Ibrahim, said during his keynote address that transforming Nigeria’s agricultural sector requires structure, collaboration and a financing model that can convert the sector’s vast potential into sustainable value chains.
He said, “We share a common goal unlocking the full potential of Nigeria’s agriculture sector, the National Agricultural Development Fund was established to address financing constraints and enhance food security by providing structured support to farmers and agribusinesses.” He explained to investors and fund managers that the mission of NADF aligns profit with purpose, adding that partnerships with financial institutions remain essential.
Muhammed noted that agriculture, despite its strong contribution to GDP and employment, still attracts a low share of private investment. He said NADF is positioned to close this gap by reducing risks, improving value chain coordination, supporting processors through backward integration and deploying blended financing instruments designed to bring in commercial capital.
