By Faridat Salifu
Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, has been elected Chairperson of the Governing Council of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), a move that underscores Nigeria’s growing influence in global agricultural governance.
Kyari will serve a two-year term, elected by over 580 delegates representing about 120 countries, at the 49th session of the IFAD Governing Council held on Tuesday in Rome, Italy.
He previously served as Vice Chair of the council, the apex decision-making body of the organisation.
In his acceptance statement, Kyari described the appointment as “a solemn responsibility to the millions of rural people whose lives are shaped by our decisions,” pledging to discharge the mandate with fairness, inclusiveness, and strategic foresight while upholding IFAD’s credibility and integrity.
He expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for his leadership and commitment to agricultural transformation and food security, which Kyari said has elevated Nigeria’s role in global development.
Kyari acknowledged the support of the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, Permanent Secretary Marcus Ogunbiyi, and staff of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
He highlighted that his election demonstrates member states’ confidence in Africa’s leadership amid global challenges such as climate change, economic volatility, conflict, and demographic shifts.
At the IFAD Leaders’ Dialogue, Kyari addressed the Lake Chad crisis, noting the lake has shrunk by nearly 90%, threatening the livelihoods of farmers, fishermen, women, and young people across the Sahel and Central Africa.
“Lake Chad has real people behind the statistics, whose communities are becoming more vulnerable to poverty and insecurity,” he said.
The minister called for coordinated efforts, proper funding, and practical solutions to restore food security, climate resilience, and peace to the region.
He emphasized that Nigeria is committed to working with IFAD and global partners to turn commitments into action.
IFAD, established in 1977, is a United Nations specialised agency and international financial institution dedicated to eradicating rural poverty and strengthening food systems through targeted investments and partnerships in developing countries.