The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen Abubakar Kyari, along with other key stakeholders, is scheduled to officially open the 2026 edition of the National Agricultural Show at the outskirts of Abuja. The annual event, organized by the National Agricultural Foundation of Nigeria (NAFN), gathers farmers, research institutes, innovators, service providers, and other actors across the agricultural value chain.
The 2026 edition carries the theme: 'Building a resilient Nigerian agrifood system: Empowering farmers, mobilizing investment, and driving innovation for food security and shared prosperity.' The five-day show will run from November 16 to November 20, 2026, at the National Agricultural Showground, Km 28, Keffi–Abuja Expressway, Tudun Wada, Karu Local Government Area, Nasarawa State.
Hajiya Aishatu Rufa'I Ibrahim, the National Coordinator of NAFN, described the show as a premier national platform for showcasing agricultural innovations, technologies, products, investment opportunities, and practical solutions to the challenges confronting Nigeria's agricultural and food systems. She noted that this year's edition holds particular significance amid growing concerns over food security, rising production costs, climate change, limited access to finance, inadequate mechanization, and the need to strengthen agricultural value chains. The event is expected to provide an opportunity for stakeholders to exchange knowledge, establish strategic partnerships, explore investment opportunities, and promote policies that will transform Nigeria's agricultural sector.
Hajiya Ibrahim called on Federal and State Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), Local Government Areas, the Organized Private Sector, financial institutions, development partners, agricultural research institutions, agribusiness investors, farmers' associations, cooperatives, smallholder and commercial farmers, as well as other stakeholders, to actively participate in the five-day event. She said government institutions would have the opportunity to showcase their agricultural programmes, attract partnerships, and identify practical interventions for rural development and food security. Private-sector organizations would benefit from networking, market access, business-to-buyer engagements, and opportunities to invest across agricultural value chains. Farmers, particularly smallholder farmers, would gain exposure to improved technologies, modern farming practices, quality inputs, market linkages, and direct connections with service providers and potential buyers. Local governments would also find the Show valuable as a platform to identify scalable agricultural initiatives, promote local economic development, create employment opportunities, and unlock the agricultural potential of their communities.
'NAFN believes that achieving sustainable food security requires collective action, strong public-private partnerships, increased investment, and the adoption of innovative agricultural solutions. The National Agricultural Show provides a unique opportunity for all stakeholders to move beyond discussions to practical collaborations and measurable outcomes,' Hajiya Aishatu said.
The event is expected to bring together relevant stakeholders, exhibitors, investors, policymakers, farmers, and agricultural enthusiasts and key actors in the sector.