The 2SCALE Programme (Towards Sustainable Clusters in Agribusiness through Learning in Entrepreneurship), in collaboration with the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, has wrapped up its 13-year initiative in Nigeria with a strong call for more inclusive agribusiness practices.
The closing event, held at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Ikeja, Lagos, focused on the theme “Inclusive Agribusiness in Nigeria: A Public-Private Dialogue.”
It brought together key players in Nigeria’s agricultural space and celebrated the progress made in building sustainable food systems.
The event highlighted the commitment of both Nigerian stakeholders and the Dutch government to continue agribusiness reforms beyond the programme’s end.
Speaking at the event, Marina Diboma, Programme Director of 2SCALE, praised the initiative’s impact and resilience in the face of insecurity and the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Our model wasn’t a one-size-fits-all blueprint; it worked because we focused on local realities and the real commitment of actors in the ecosystem.
Through collaboration between public and private actors, we’ve empowered rural communities and strengthened Nigeria’s food system,” she said.
Diboma also launched the 2SCALE Interactive Magazine, a digital resource that captures the programme’s journey and achievements.
She premiered a 30-minute documentary titled “Food Soldiers: Promoting Food Security in Africa.” The documentary follows a Nigerian photojournalist who explores hunger drivers and local solutions in Nigeria, Benin, and Mali.
Although 2SCALE is winding down, Diboma noted that the inclusive agribusiness approach will continue through local institutions, such as the Institute of Agricultural Management, which has adopted its framework.
Consular General Michel Deleen, representing the Netherlands, reiterated the Dutch government’s commitment to supporting agricultural development in Nigeria.
“While insecurity, volatile commodity prices, high input costs, and limited working capital continue to hinder agribusiness in Nigeria, public-private dialogue and partnerships remain key to unlocking progress,” Deleen said.
He added that the programme was not focused on handouts, but on building professional and sustainable agriculture systems.
“2SCALE wasn’t about handing out funds. It was about raising professionalism in agriculture, connecting production to markets, and building sustainable agro-value chains,” he said.
Deleen pointed out the Netherlands’ €15 million investment in the 2SCALE programme across Africa and mentioned other ongoing support efforts, such as Horti Nigeria, which promotes horticulture in Kano, Kaduna, Oyo, and Ogun states.
“Nigeria needs a green revolution. Yields are still far below their potential. We must improve training, inputs, storage, and policy, and that requires joint effort from all actors,” he added.
He called on the Federal Government to address significant policy gaps, especially in land ownership, fertiliser access, and agricultural education.
He emphasised that the government should enable systems, not directly manage farming.
Also present at the event was Ayo Sotirin, Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture (BOA), who announced new reforms to increase access to agrifinance.
“We are moving away from cumbersome systems. Farmers can now open accounts and access loans online. We’re banking on agriculture as a business, not just a way of life,” he said.
According to Sotirin, the BOA has started digitising farmer onboarding, issuing unique IDs, and introducing credit scoring based on land and past performance.
A key part of the reform is a ₦1.5 trillion recapitalisation plan designed to increase access to funding for farmers and agribusinesses.
“We’re digitising farmer data, introducing unique IDs, and rolling out credit scoring based on land and performance. These reforms will improve transparency and expand credit access,” he said.
