By Chidi Ugwu
Nigeria on Thursday launched the Nigeria Agricultural Intelligence Platform (NAIP), a transformative four-year roadmap aimed at revolutionizing the country’s agricultural sector through digital innovation and youth empowerment.
The landmark initiative, led by the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) in partnership with PIXELS Solutions Limited and strongly backed by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS), was launched to usher in a tech-driven, knowledge-based agricultural ecosystem in Nigeria.
In his remarks, Dr. Adamu Abubakar Dabban, Executive Secretary of ARCN, described NAIP as a ground-breaking project designed to address long-standing challenges in Nigerian agriculture—such as reliance on rain-fed farming, poor access to quality inputs, and limited extension services.
NAIP aims to foster a people-centered, technology-powered agricultural system that feeds the population, creates sustainable jobs, enhances food security, and turns Nigeria into a leader in Africa’s agrifood transformation.
Key features of NAIP include building digital knowledge hubs to connect farmers, researchers, and policymakers; delivering AI-powered advisory services directly to farms; expanding access to mechanization and smart agricultural tools; and deploying e-extension services nationwide.
Dr. Dabban acknowledged the visionary leadership of the Minister of Agriculture, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, whose support has been pivotal to the platform’s realization.
Sen. Abubakar Kyari, in his opening remarks, emphasized agriculture’s critical role as the backbone of Nigeria’s economy and underscored the importance of embracing innovation, technology, and sustainable financing to unlock its full potential.
He highlighted that NAIP aligns closely with the strategic objectives of Nigeria’s National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy (NATIP), which promotes knowledge dissemination, research advancement, technology deployment, and youth agripreneurship.
The platform is designed to integrate with ongoing government programs like the National Agricultural Growth Scheme, fertilizer distribution initiatives, and climate-smart agriculture efforts, thereby amplifying impact across the agricultural value chain.
The launch event marked a milestone in Nigeria’s agricultural agenda, reflecting strong collaboration between government, private sector partners, and stakeholders united in transforming the future of farming.
By harnessing artificial intelligence, digital tools, and youth leadership, NAIP is poised to boost productivity, strengthen food systems, increase farmers’ incomes, and contribute significantly to national development.
This innovative agricultural intelligence platform embodies Nigeria’s ambition to transition from subsistence farming to a vibrant, sustainable, and technologically advanced agribusiness sector, positioned firmly at the forefront of Africa’s food security and economic growth efforts.
