Senator Aliyu Abdullahi, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, has been awarded the “National Agritourism Patron of the Year” at the inaugural World Agritourism Festival 2025.
The award, presented by Xtralarge Farms and Resources, recognises his exceptional leadership in leveraging agriculture for economic growth, tourism development, and national sustainability.
Abdullahi dedicated the award to Nigerian farmers, especially women and youth, whom he described as the “driving force behind Nigeria’s agricultural transformation.”
He expressed optimism about the future of agriculture in Nigeria, stating, “There is enormous room for growth. With innovation, partnerships, and strategic initiatives, Nigeria’s agricultural future is bright.”
The festival received stakeholders from Nigeria’s agriculture and tourism sectors to celebrate innovation and sustainability while repositioning agriculture as a key player in economic diversification.
Abdullahi praised the event as a pioneering model integrating agribusiness with tourism and national development, referencing successful agritourism examples from Italy, South Africa, and the United States.
He called for the establishment of a national technical committee to develop Nigeria’s agritourism framework, pledging policy support and investment in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“Transformation requires coordinated efforts. We must build a unified network to ensure shared growth and maximum impact,” he said.
Dr. Bamidele Abiodun, First Lady of Ogun State, also honoured at the event, described the festival as a milestone in Nigeria’s pursuit of food security and sustainable development.
She noted recent partnerships with Qatar and Brazil to boost agricultural infrastructure and productivity.
She called for expanded empowerment schemes to support women farmers’ transition to commercial agriculture.
“Women constitute more than half of smallholder farmers, yet they remain marginalised,” she noted.
Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Mrs. Ruth Bisola Olusanya, and Dr. Seyi Davis, Founder and CEO of Xtralarge Farms, also noted the importance of local farmers thriving, which leads to community investment.
Source: Punch Ng
Image Credit: Punch Ng
