The Federal Government, in collaboration with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the National Agriculture Development Fund (NADF), has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to integrate emerging technologies into Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
This initiative aims to increase productivity and ensure food security through digital innovation.
At the signing ceremony held in Abuja, director-general of NITDA, Mallam Kashifu Abdullahi emphasised the government’s commitment to leveraging technology to modernise agriculture. “President Bola Tinubu has made it clear that boosting agriculture is a national priority, and today, agriculture cannot thrive without the infusion of digital technology,” Abdullahi said.
Abdullahi explained that the MoU reflects efforts to accelerate the adoption of smart agricultural practices. NITDA has already initiated projects such as the National Adopted Village for Smart Agriculture (NAVSA), which uses digital tools to enhance farming techniques. “We have partnered with universities and startups to develop technologies that improve productivity on farmlands and we’re already seeing results,” he added.
Executive secretary of NADF, Mohammed Abu echoed these sentiments, stressing the importance of using data-driven solutions to overcome challenges such as climate change, funding shortages and insecurity. “Technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT) and remote sensing have already demonstrated their ability to optimize agricultural outcomes and we intend to expand their use,” Abu noted.
The NADF hopes this collaboration will lead to more of such partnerships focused on using data-backed evidence for decision-making and resource allocation. Both parties agree that this initiative marks the beginning of a new era in Nigerian agriculture, where technology will play a central role in ensuring sustainability and food security.
