The National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) has taken a major step towards reshaping agricultural financing in Nigeria with the successful convening of its inaugural NADF Networking Session with Fund Managers, a forum designed to strengthen partnerships, deepen investment participation, and unlock long-term capital for the country’s agrifood sector.
Held under the theme “Unlocking Agribusiness Financing in Nigeria: NADF as a Catalytic Partner”, the session brought together leading fund managers, capital market operators, investment institutions, and development finance experts, marking a significant move by NADF to position agriculture within mainstream investment conversations.
The initiative aligns directly with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly the drive for food security and food sovereignty as central pillars of national economic stability.
In his keynote address, Mohammed Ibrahim, Executive Secretary of NADF, stressed that transforming Nigeria’s agricultural sector requires structure, collaboration, and a financing model capable of turning the sector’s vast potential into investable and sustainable value chains.
“We share a common goal-unlocking the full potential of Nigeria’s agriculture sector,” Ibrahim said. “The National Agricultural Development Fund was established to address financing constraints and enhance food security by providing structured support to farmers and agribusinesses. Our mission aligns profit with purpose, and partnerships with institutions such as yours are vital.”
He noted that agriculture, despite its significant contribution to GDP and employment, still attracts a disproportionately low share of private investment. NADF, he said, is strategically positioned to help close that gap by reducing risks, strengthening value chain coordination, supporting processors through backward integration, and deploying blended financing instruments that attract commercial capital.
The Executive Secretary emphasised that NADF’s recent initiatives including on-lending programmes with banks, a digital farmer verification system, targeted support for women and youth, and the AgGrow processor-led integration scheme—are designed to create a transparent, investable pipeline that supports both national priorities and investor expectations.
Guest speaker, Aakif Merchant, Director of Engagement and Capacity-Building at Convergence Blended Finance, delivered a presentation on Blended Finance in Emerging Markets, highlighting global models Nigeria can leverage.
