From Atiku Sarki, Abuja
Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, has been appointed Chairman of the 49th Governing Council of the International Fund for Agricultural Development.
The appointment was disclosed in a statement issued in Abuja by the Head of the Department of Information, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Ezeaja Ikemefuna.
Delivering his acceptance speech at the 49th Session of the IFAD Governing Council meeting held in Rome, Italy, on Tuesday, Kyari pledged to promote unity, inclusiveness and multilateral cooperation in the discharge of his duties.
“It is with profound humility and an abiding sense of duty that I accept the honour to serve as Chairman of the 49th Governing Council of the International Fund for Agricultural Development,” he said.
“I receive this mandate not merely as a personal distinction, but as a solemn obligation to the millions of rural women and men whose hopes rest on the decisions we take in this chamber.
“I pledge to discharge this duty with impartiality, inclusiveness, and strategic foresight. I will work tirelessly to foster consensus, deepen multilateral cooperation, and uphold the integrity and credibility of this great institution.”
Kyari reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that IFAD remains financially robust and impact-driven, delivering measurable outcomes for smallholder farmers, rural youth, women and vulnerable communities across continents.
He expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for what he described as visionary leadership and commitment to agricultural transformation and food security, noting that Nigeria remains a strong advocate of global development cooperation.
The minister also thanked Vice President Kashim Shettima, members of the Federal Executive Council, the National Economic Council, and staff of the ministry for their support.
He commended the outgoing IFAD Chairman, Christophe Schiltz, for his stewardship and acknowledged the leadership of IFAD President Álvaro Lario, Vice President Gerardine Mukeshimana, and other senior officials for advancing the organisation’s mandate.
Kyari noted that global food systems were facing significant challenges, including climate shocks, economic volatility, conflict and demographic changes.
“These are defining responsibilities that require unity of purpose, discipline of thought, and courage of conviction,” he said.
He assured member states of his readiness to work collaboratively to strengthen IFAD’s mission of rural transformation and sustainable food systems.
