Deals worth over $100m were sealed at the just-concluded Agriculture Summit Africa held in Abuja to strengthen the agriculture value chain, operators in the industry have said.
This was announced in a statement from the organisers of the summit on Thursday, saying that the deals were part of the Nigeria Feed, Fodder, and Livestock Investment Deal Room, Series 1.
Convened under the theme ‘Transitioning from Scarcity to Security,’ the summit, supported by Sterling One Foundation alongside other private and public sector partners, including the African Union, International Finance Corporation, Leadway Assurance, Benue State Government, and Sterling Bank was held against the backdrop of acute food insecurity and rising climate challenges across Africa.
“ASA provided a platform for driving innovative solutions and facilitating transformative partnerships,” the statement stated.
Key stakeholders in the room included Chief Executive Officer, Sterling One Foundation, Olapeju Ibekwe; Senior Special Assistant to the President on Livestock Development, Idris Ajimobi; Director of Animal Husbandry Services at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Winnie Lai-Solarin; Commissioner for Finance, and representatives of the Benue State Government, led by Michael Oglegba, among other stakeholders and partners.
Group Head, Agric Finance and Solid Minerals, Sterling Bank, Dr Olusola Obikanye, emphasised the bank’s commitment to its HEART sectors, stating, “Sterling Bank is deeply committed to driving transformative impact across critical sectors such as agriculture, as outlined in our HEART strategy—Health, Education, Agriculture, Renewable Energy, and Transportation.
“ASA is a platform for addressing Africa’s pressing agricultural challenges, and the deals signed at the Nigeria Feed, Fodder, and Livestock Investment Deal Room reflect the growing confidence in strategic partnerships to unlock the potential of agricultural value chains and drive sustainable growth across the continent.”
Commenting on the significance of the ASA Deal Room in addressing food security and agricultural transformation, Oglegba said, “The Deal Room at ASA provided a platform to attract strategic partnerships that address key challenges in agriculture. Through this forum, Benue State secured a partnership with South African investors to enhance feed production and livestock systems. This collaboration will not only strengthen our agricultural value chains but also
position Benue to further contribute to food security in Nigeria and across Africa.”
Ibekwe highlighted the significance of the foundation’s role at ASA, stating, “ASA exemplifies the power of collaborative action in addressing Africa’s agricultural challenges. Food security is one of our focus areas, and this aligns with the investments and partnerships made possible through the Deal Room. Initiatives like this are instrumental in driving inclusive development and creating jobs across the agricultural value chain.”
The Sterling One Foundation has developed several impactful programs aimed at addressing systemic challenges in agriculture while providing economic opportunities. The Agriculture Support Program for Rural Women Farmers focuses on equipping women with the resources and training to scale their agribusinesses, ensuring increased productivity and income generation.
