By successfully holding its first NADF Networking Session with Fund Managers, a forum intended to improve collaboration, increase investment participation, and unlock long-term capital for the nation’s agrifood sector, the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) has made significant progress toward reshaping agricultural financing in Nigeria.
The session, which took place at the Oriental Hotel in Lagos under the theme “Unlocking Agribusiness Financing in Nigeria: NADF as a Catalytic Partner,” brought together prominent fund managers, capital market operators, investment institutions, and development finance specialists. It was a major step by NADF to place agriculture in the mainstream of investment discussions.
NADF claims that the program is in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which emphasizes the importance of food security, job creation, a high GDP, and food sovereignty as key pillars of the country’s economic stability.
The Executive Secretary of NADF, Mohammed Ibrahim, emphasized in his keynote speech the need for structure, cooperation, and a financing model that can convert Nigeria’s agricultural sector’s enormous potential into investable and sustainable value chains.
“The National Agricultural Development Fund was established to address financing constraints and enhance food security by providing structured support to farmers and agribusinesses. Our shared goal is to unlock the full potential of Nigeria’s agriculture sector.”
He addressed investors and fund managers, saying, “Our mission aligns profit with purpose, and partnerships with institutions like yours are vital.”
Muhammad pointed out that although agriculture contributes significantly to GDP and employment, it still receives a disproportionately small amount of private investment. He said that NADF is strategically positioned to help close the gap by lowering risks, enhancing value chain coordination, assisting processors through backward integration, and implementing blended financing instruments that draw in commercial capital.
