The Federal Government, in collaboration with ActionAid Nigeria and development partners, has unveiled the 2025–2030 Revised National Gender Policy on Agrifood Systems Transformation, along with its Strategic Action Plan.
This initiative is to promote equal access to agricultural resources and opportunities across Nigeria’s food system.
The policy focuses on ensuring that both women and men can participate fully in agriculture, from production to processing and market access, while also strengthening decision-making roles across the agrifood value chain.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, represented by the Minister of State, Aliyu Abdullahi, said the initiative marks a significant step toward building a more inclusive, productive, and sustainable agricultural sector.
He noted that agriculture remains central to Nigeria’s efforts to drive food security, create jobs, and support economic growth, but added that gender gaps continue to limit the contributions of women in the sector.
“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 to ensure fair access to resources, services, and opportunities, while promoting gender-responsive 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 requires inclusive participation, noting that equitable agrifood systems can deliver both economic benefits and social progress.
Speaking further, Abdullahi said the policy directly addresses the roles, opportunities, and challenges faced by women in agriculture and food production.
“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, Andrew Mamedu, described the policy as a key milestone in Nigeria’s move toward inclusive agricultural development.
Represented by Mrs Olufunke Olukeye, he said the framework reflects Nigeria’s commitment to placing gender equality 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 added that the policy was developed through consultations involving government agencies, civil society, private sector stakeholders, development partners, and farming communities.
“This unveiling is a call to action. We must translate this policy into concrete programmes, inclusive budgets and measurable outcomes,” he said.
Also speaking, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa Country Director Rufus Idris pledged continued support for the policy, noting that gender inclusion is critical to transforming food systems across Africa.
In addition, Nkiruka Okonkwo said the framework is designed to remove structural barriers that limit participation in agriculture, particularly for women and other vulnerable groups.
She explained that the policy is built around six key objectives, including improving access to agricultural resources, services, technologies, and opportunities, as well as strengthening gender-responsive planning and budgeting.
The event, organised by ActionAid Nigeria under its Inclusive Food Systems Project with support from Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), signals renewed commitment to ensuring equal participation across Nigeria’s agricultural value chain and improving outcomes in food security and rural development.
Source: NAN
