The event, which brought together government officials, state governors, development finance institutions, and industry players from both countries, aimed to explore investment opportunities in Nigeria’s agricultural sector. The forum was co-convened by the African Business Roundtable, the National Agricultural Development Fund, and the National Agricultural Land Development Authority, highlighting collaborative efforts to advance the nation’s agricultural transformation agenda.
Sotinrin emphasised Nigeria’s vast potential, citing over 80 million hectares of arable land and a population exceeding 220 million, positioning the country as one of Africa’s most promising agricultural frontiers. He stressed that achieving meaningful transformation in mechanisation, irrigation, post-harvest infrastructure, climate-resilient technologies, and digital agricultural services “goes beyond the capacity of any single institution,” underscoring the need for purpose-driven partnerships.
Despite the resources and market potential, Sotinrin noted that access to capital remains a critical bottleneck. “The country has land, labour, and market potentials but the critical gap remains access to capital,” he said, calling on investors to align London’s financial resources, expertise, and innovation with Nigeria’s agricultural opportunities.
The forum, themed “Bridging the gap: financing climate-resilient agriculture in Nigeria,” provided a platform for stakeholders to deepen collaboration, mobilise investment, and drive the development of sustainable and climate-smart agricultural solutions across the country.