Abubakar Kyari elected IFAD Governing Council chair; President Tinubu congratulates him, praising his contribution to Nigeria’s agriculture

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated Abubakar Kyari, Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, on his election as chairperson of the Governing Council of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

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The announcement was confirmed in a statement by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga.

Senator Kyari, previously serving as vice-chair of the IFAD council, was unanimously elected to head the organisation’s 49th Governing Council, the body’s supreme decision-making authority.

President Tinubu described the election as a vote of confidence in Kyari’s capacity and the agricultural reforms he has championed in Nigeria.

“The election of the Agriculture and Food Security minister is a confidence vote in his capacity and the reforms he spearheads in Nigeria’s agriculture and food security value chain,” the president said.

“I have confidence that Senator Kyari will give IFAD the right leadership and deepen its relevance and impact, especially at a time of global food security crises.”

The 49th IFAD Governing Council session also highlighted the role of young rural entrepreneurs in transforming global food systems.

Guest speaker Tony Elumelu, Chairman of Heirs Holdings, stressed that investing in agriculture and youth-led initiatives strengthens communities, reduces poverty, and supports sustainable economic growth across Africa.

As Kyari assumes his new role, IFAD approaches its 50th anniversary and prepares for the launch of its fourteenth replenishment consultations, reaffirming partnerships with rural communities, governments, and the private sector to achieve lasting results.

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Senator Kyari has previously credited President Tinubu’s policies with stabilising Nigeria’s food prices, combining efforts to boost local production with temporary imports to ensure immediate availability, while addressing structural weaknesses in the agricultural sector.