ABUJA, NIGERIA — Abuja is set to host the 9th Agriculture Summit Africa from September 15 to 16, with organisers and industry leaders seeking to accelerate Africa’s transformation into a major global agricultural powerhouse. Details of the summit were unveiled in Lagos ahead of the two-day gathering, which will be held under the theme, “Building the Next Superpower: Africa’s Food Power Play.” Convened by Sterling Bank in partnership with public-sector stakeholders and agribusiness leaders, the summit is expected to focus on the continent’s food security challenges and opportunities across the agricultural value chain. Africa continues to face significant pressure from rising food demand, climate-related challenges, limited agricultural infrastructure and dependence on food imports. Against this background, the summit aims to encourage greater investment in agriculture while promoting technology, financing, processing, logistics and market access. Organisers are expected to bring together policymakers, farmers, financial institutions, agribusiness executives, development experts and other stakeholders to examine strategies for unlocking Africa’s agricultural potential. A key objective will be to move the continent from being a major net food importer towards becoming a competitive agricultural exporter capable of supplying both domestic and international markets. The summit will also examine opportunities for young people and entrepreneurs within the agricultural sector, particularly through innovation and value-added processing. With Africa’s population and food demand continuing to grow, stakeholders say stronger agricultural systems will be critical to achieving long-term economic resilience and food security. The Abuja summit is therefore expected to serve as a platform for partnerships and practical initiatives aimed at positioning agriculture at the centre of Africa’s economic transformation.
