The Federal Government has launched the Revised National Gender Policy on Agrifood Systems Transformation for Nigeria (NGPAST) and its Strategic Plan of Action (2025–2030), a comprehensive framework designed to promote gender equity, social inclusion, and the full participation of women, youth, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups in Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
The policy, developed through extensive stakeholder consultations across the six geopolitical zones, aims to address persistent gender disparities in access to land, finance, inputs, extension services, technologies, markets, and decision-making within agrifood systems. It aligns with national priorities under the Renewed Hope Agenda, the National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy (NATIP 2022–2027), and continental commitments such as the CAADP Kampala Declaration.
Speaking at the event, the Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, represented by the Minister of State, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, described the revised policy as a critical milestone in building a more productive, sustainable, resilient, and inclusive agricultural sector.
Senator Abdullahi emphasised that while agriculture remains central to Nigeria’s food security, employment, and economic growth, gender inequalities continue to limit the potential of millions of Nigerians, particularly women who constitute a significant portion of the agricultural workforce.
“The policy we are launching today provides a clear and practical framework to ensure equitable access to resources, opportunities, and decision-making for both women and men,” he said.
He commended development partners, including ActionAid Nigeria, AGRA, and GIZ, for their invaluable support in the policy’s development and stressed that its success would depend on effective implementation, domestication across states, and integration into budgets and programmes.
A major highlight of the event was the commitment from the AGRA, whose Country Director delivered a message of partnership and action.
Expressing delight at AGRA’s involvement, the Country Director conveyed greetings from millions of smallholder farmers across the African continent and reaffirmed AGRA’s dedication to transforming Africa’s food systems with gender at the centre of its strategy.
“We are very happy to be part of this initiative. We cannot transform Africa’s food systems without ensuring that we enhance the inclusion of gender in our strategy.
That is why we are so pleased and honoured to be partnering with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, ActionAid, GIZ, and the National Gender Steering Committee,” the Country Director stated.
He noted AGRA’s active role in the policy’s development, including contributions to dialogues and validation processes across multiple zones. Looking ahead, he made a clear implementation pledge.
“The journey has just started. We have a revised policy. One of our mandates will be how we support the implementation of this policy.
At AGRA, we are committing that we will continue to work with you towards the implementation of this policy… We need to ensure that this policy is also domesticated across all the states in Nigeria.
We are committing that we will do our best to work with the Ministry and the government to ensure that we domesticate this policy in all the states where we currently work and beyond, in partnership with the governors.”
He further emphasised the need to cascade the policy to local government levels for grassroots impact, wishing stakeholders success in the launch of this landmark document.
The Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria and Chair of the National Gender Steering Committee, Dr. Andrew Mamedu represented by Funmi Olukeye, described the policy as a defining moment that positions women, men, youth, and persons with disabilities as central actors rather than marginal beneficiaries.
He called for strong political will, financing, and collective ownership to turn the document into measurable outcomes.
The Revised National Gender Policy on Agrifood Systems Transformation (2025–2030) is expected to serve as a guiding instrument for gender-responsive planning, budgeting, and programming in Nigeria’s agrifood sector over the next five years, advancing the nation’s goals of food security, poverty reduction, and sustainable development.
