With the Presidency endorsing Nigeria’s hosting of the 9th Africa Agriculture Science Week (AASW9) and the 10th FARA General Assembly, a first joint mission to Abuja has reaffirmed government commitment, kick-started local preparations, opened new partnership pathways, and set the stage for a high-profile continental gathering on agrifood systems transformation from 27–30 July 2026.
Preparations for the 9th Africa Agriculture Science Week (AASW9) and the 10th Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) General Assembly gathered significant momentum following a first host-country mission to Abuja by a FARA delegation, which engaged senior government officials, strategic institutions, diplomatic missions and prospective partners ahead of the continental event, scheduled for 27–30 July 2026 at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja, Nigeria.
The event is being co-organised by the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), CORAF, and the Federal Government of Nigeria, working through the Presidency, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, and the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN). The Abuja mission confirmed that Nigeria is not only ready to host the event but that key ministers, acting on the President’s approval, are already mobilising political, institutional and technical support for its successful delivery.
Held under the theme “Innovations and Partnerships for Resilient and Sustainable Agrifood Systems in Africa,” AASW9 will convene policymakers, researchers, farmers, agribusinesses, investors, development partners, youth, innovators and private-sector leaders to shape Africa’s agrifood transformation agenda. Its four sub-themes will focus on emerging agricultural technologies and innovations; climate-resilient agrifood systems; nutrition, health and urban food systems; and enabling impact at scale through policies, financing, capacity, institutions and inclusion.
“The mission confirmed that political support for AASW9 is firmly in place, while strategic institutions in Nigeria are already stepping forward with ideas, partnerships and practical commitments.”
During the mission, the FARA delegation paid a courtesy visit to the Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, CON, who reaffirmed the Federal Government’s support for the event and welcomed efforts to position AASW9 as a platform for tangible agricultural impact. He nominated Ministry directors to serve on the Local Organising Committee and emphasised the need to prioritise agricultural research, particularly in response to climate-related pressures affecting the Sahel. He also agreed to support publicity for the event through a short promotional video and encouraged efforts to secure a presidential clarion call to mobilise Nigerian researchers and institutions behind the conference.
The mission team subsequently met the Honourable Minister of Livestock Development, who confirmed that political support had been secured and that Nigeria was ready for the event. He encouraged stronger private-sector participation, pledged support for the resource mobilisation drive via an official letter, and directed his team to begin preparations for the exhibition. He also proposed NASENI as a potential field-visit site, encouraged engagement with institutions such as ECOWAS and FAO, and indicated his readiness to support publicity with a short video message. The Minister further expressed interest in ensuring that the conference contributes practical, context-specific technologies and innovations for animal husbandry.
The delegation also met the Honourable Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Dr Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, CON, who welcomed the decision to bring AASW9 to Nigeria and noted his familiarity with previous editions of the event. He affirmed the country’s readiness to host and proposed concrete contributions to the Local Organising Committee, including the participation of the Permanent Secretary and the possible inclusion of the Federal Ministry of Finance. He also suggested Niger and Nasarawa as possible field-visit locations and proposed a spoken-word performance by the Ministry of Art and Culture as part of the opening attractions.
The ministerial engagements were complemented by strategic planning sessions with the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), during which the draft composition and terms of reference of the Local Organising Committee were reviewed and strengthened. The discussions also expanded stakeholder mapping, identifying around 135 private-sector institutions for future engagement, sponsorship and collaboration.
Beyond government engagement, the Abuja mission broadened the event’s partnership base. The delegation held discussions with the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) on the potential co-organisation of a foresight side event, business-to-business sessions, and technical support for briefing notes, rapporteuring, and the final conference report. The Brazilian Embassy expressed interest in supporting preparatory activities and in exploring an Africa–Brazil Day and technology fair in collaboration with EMBRAPA. The National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) also pledged support for the Local Organising Committee and indicated readiness to exhibit technologies at the event.
Further interest came from major Nigerian public institutions. TETFund signalled initial willingness to consider a Platinum sponsorship package, subject to a formal proposal, and expressed interest in jointly organising a side event on emerging technologies and in exploring a longer-term knowledge partnership with FARA. The National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) also discussed possible platinum sponsorship and technical collaboration, as well as the launch of a national baseline study during AASW9, and requested FARA’s support as international reviewers for one of its reports.
The visit to the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre enabled the team to assess the venue and establish preliminary contact with management, while booking arrangements continue via the appropriate government channels. The mission also paid a courtesy call on the Ghana High Commission in Abuja, underscoring the event’s continental and diplomatic significance and opening further discussions on collaboration around ARIFA and related engagement.
“From ministerial backing to emerging sponsorship prospects and technical partnerships, Abuja has signalled that AASW9 will be a platform for action, not just dialogue.”
Taken together, the mission’s outcomes indicate that the conference is shaping up to be more than a scientific gathering. AASW9 is being positioned as a pan-African science-to-policy-to-business platform, capable of linking innovation, investment, partnerships and practical solutions to transform agrifood systems. The event will feature high-level plenaries, ministerial parallel sessions, side events, exhibitions, agribusiness and investment engagement, science-policy dialogue and networking opportunities for stakeholders from across Africa and beyond.
Registration is ongoing and is expected to attract participants from across the Agricultural Research for Development (AR4D) community and the wider agrifood ecosystem, including farmers, researchers, extension actors, agribusinesses, financiers, processors, insurers, development agencies, country pavilions and technology providers. Organisers are encouraging early registration among delegates, side-event conveners, exhibitors and sponsors seeking to be part of what is expected to be one of the continent’s most significant agrifood gatherings in 2026.
