NIGERIA’S AGRIC MINISTER KYARI EMERGES IFAD GOVERNING COUNCIL CHAIRMAN

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By Aishat Momoh. O.

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, has been appointed Chairman of the Governing Council of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

Kyari emerged at the 49th Session of the IFAD Governing Council Meeting held on Tuesday in Rome, Italy, marking a significant milestone for Nigeria’s role in global agricultural development.

In his acceptance remarks, the minister described the appointment as a responsibility rather than a personal honour, stressing his commitment to vulnerable rural populations across the world.

“It is with humility and a strong sense of duty that I accept this role,” Kyari said in a statement shared on his X handle Tuesday evening. “I take this mandate not as a personal honour, but as a responsibility to millions of rural women and men worldwide.”

He pledged to promote unity and inclusiveness across continents, assuring member states of impartial and strategically focused leadership aimed at building consensus, strengthening multilateral cooperation, and upholding IFAD’s credibility.

Kyari reaffirmed his dedication to IFAD’s mission of remaining financially robust, policy-driven, and impact-focused, particularly at a time when global food systems are under pressure from climate shocks, economic instability, conflicts, and population growth.

The minister also expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for positioning Nigeria as a key player in global development cooperation, while commending the outgoing IFAD chairman, Christophe Schiltz, for his leadership and service.

His appointment is seen as a boost to Nigeria’s international standing and its advocacy for sustainable agriculture and rural development worldwide.