Hon. Minister Bello Goronyo, Esq., Champions Nigeria’s Food Security Agenda at German Agribusiness Summit

Promoting International Partnerships to Advance Nigeria's Agricultural Transformation and Food Security Agenda

The immediate past Honorable Minister of State for Water Resources and Sanitation, now the Honorable Minister of State for Works, Hon. Bello M. Goronyo, Esq., led a distinguished Nigerian delegation to the German Agribusiness and AgriTech Summit 2024 in Hamburg, Germany, from November 11–16, 2024. This summit provided an invaluable opportunity for Nigeria to engage with international stakeholders in agriculture and agribusiness, highlighting the nation's commitment to advancing its food security goals. The Nigerian delegation participated in a rich lineup of activities, including a study tour to leading agricultural establishments: a state-of-the-art Livestock and Dairy Farm (Milchhof Reitbrook) and an innovative Integrated Apple Farm. These tours were instrumental in exposing the delegation to sustainable farming techniques that could potentially transform Nigeria's agricultural practices.

Hon. Goronyo’s engagement at the summit underscored the Nigerian government’s keen interest in fostering knowledge transfer and technical cooperation with global partners. During the study tours, he emphasized the importance of building future collaborations with the farm owners to promote knowledge sharing and improve cattle management practices. Such initiatives, he noted, would contribute significantly to advancing President His Excellency Sen. Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s "Hope Agenda," specifically its pillar on achieving “Food Security” for Nigeria. By leveraging partnerships with international leaders in livestock and crop management, Hon. Goronyo underscored that Nigeria could adopt innovative farming practices that enhance the productivity and sustainability of its agriculture sector.

Additionally, Hon. Goronyo extended gratitude to Cater and Merger Consult Ltd., the summit’s organizers, for their steadfast dedication in ensuring the event's success despite initial logistical challenges. He highlighted the critical role Cater and Merger Consult played in coordinating this platform, which serves as a key avenue for advancing Nigeria’s agribusiness and food security goals. Expressing optimism for future summits, Hon. Goronyo looked forward to enhanced organization and collaboration, with hopes that subsequent events would further strengthen Nigeria’s global agricultural ties and support the nation’s agribusiness development.

The study tours provided crucial insights into the operations of the Livestock and Dairy Farm, where the delegation observed advanced dairy production and cattle management techniques, and the Integrated Apple Farm, where they explored the full value chain from apple production to product diversification. The visits emphasized community-centered farming models and social impact strategies, reinforcing the importance of local engagement in agricultural projects. The summit proved to be an essential platform for building partnerships, exchanging knowledge, and exploring innovative solutions to global agricultural challenges. Nigeria’s active participation signals its commitment to driving agricultural transformation and securing food security for its citizens.