How to take innovations to full scale?

3rd – 5th September 2013. The 19th Nigerian Economic Summit. This year’s Summit presented a unique opportunity for major domestic and global leaders to discuss ongoing reforms in Nigeria’s agricultural sector focused on improvements in infrastructure, agro-industrial zones, financing and enabling policy environment that are critical for the full exploitation of the agricultural value chains, attainment of food security, employment generation and wealth creation.

It was the first time it would focus on one sector of the Economy-Agriculture, and hence the theme, "Growing Agriculture as a Business to Diversify Nigeria's Economy."

To survive and thrive as a business in Nigeria, agriculture and farmers need incentives, and lots of them. This was commonly agreed and vigorously canvassed by various speakers at the summit. For example, Dr. Donal Keberuka, President, of Africa Development Bank (ADB), and Jacques Diof, former Director-General of food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) argued that African countries need to support their famers with incentives the same way developed countries support their farmers. "Developed countries provide $1 billion incentive per day to their farmers. It is by supporting agric that we can make it competitive on the world stage", Diouf argued.
 

Background:

The annual Nigerian Economic Summit (NES) is organised in collaboration with the National Planning Commission. The Summit is a major gathering of high-level public and private sector leaders yearly in Abuja, the nation’s capital, for constructive dialogue on Nigeria’s economic management. It brings together chief executives and top-level decision makers from private sector and highest level policy making officials from public sector to discuss how best to grow the economy and to monitor the progress being made. Traditionally, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Vice President, ministers and other top-level government officials participate actively at the NES.

Related:
8 - 9 July, 2013. Abuja, Nigeria. The Rockefeller Foundation gathered leaders in agriculture and in finance in a summit to discuss ways the two sectors could realize the great potential of African agriculture. The deliberations included government ministers of agriculture and of finance, business leaders, NGO heads, experts, farmers and other key players.

Twenty one recommendations, scaling innovations and enabling investments in agriculture to strengthen economic growth and benefit people, including small holder farmers, emerged from four working groups formed at the Summit. They will inform the strategies of the Rockefeller Foundation, and the Foundation also will share them widely to prompt meaningful action by others.

Realizing the Potential of African Agriculture - Remarks by Akinwumi Adesina (Published on 6 Aug 2013)

 

Debate Published on 6 Aug 2013 Moderator: Lanre Akinola -- Editor, Financial Times' "This is Africa" Co-Moderator: Heather Grady, Vice President, Foundation Initiatives, The Rockefeller Foundation Akinwumi Adesina -- Minister of Agriculture & Rural Development, Federal Republic of Nigeria Panelists: Ouro Agadazi -- Minister of Agriculture, Togolese Republic Alexander Chikwanda -- Minister of Finance, Republic of Zambia Mbogo Futakamba -- Deputy Permanent Secretary, Tanzania Ministry of Agriculture Maria Kiwanuka -- Minister of Finance, Republic of Uganda Betty Achan Ogwaro -- Minister of Agriculture & Forestry, Republic of South Sudan Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala -- Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Finance Minister, Federal Republic of Nigeria Oua Saidou -- Minister of Agriculture, Republic of Niger Robert Sichinga -- Minister of Agriculture, Republic of Zambia
Streamed live on 14 Aug 2013

As a follow-up to The Rockefeller Foundation's recent summit in Abuja, Nigeria -- titled "Realizing the Potential of African Agriculture" -- The Rockefeller Foundation gathered experts from across the continent to participate in a Google Hangout. These experts discussed and debated some of the key takeaways and themes that emerged during the summit.

Panelists:

• Bineta Diop -- Founder and President, Femmes Africa Solidarité
• Kola Masha -- Managing Director, Doreo Partners
• Anne Mbaabu -- Director, Market Access Program, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)

Moderator:
Mamadou Biteye - Managing Director, Rockefeller Africa Regional Office