February 10, (THEWILL) — Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, has emerged as the Chairperson of the Governing Council of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
He was unanimously elected on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, in Rome, Italy, to lead the 49th session of the council, the agency’s highest decision-making organ.
Kyari, who previously served as a Vice-Chairperson of the Bureau, succeeds Christophe Schiltz of Luxembourg.
His election places Nigeria at the helm of a United Nations specialized agency dedicated to alleviating rural poverty and enhancing agricultural development worldwide.
Applauding the election, President Bola Tinubu described the development as a strong endorsement of Kyari’s leadership and the reforms being implemented in Nigeria’s agricultural sector under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“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.
He expressed confidence that Kyari would provide the right leadership at a time when the world is grappling with food insecurity and climate change.
The Governing Council is the principal governing body of IFAD, with full decision-making powers over broad policies, new memberships, and the appointment of the Fund’s President.
Kyari’s two-year tenure as Chairperson comes as IFAD reinforces its commitment to Nigeria, including the recent approval of a two-year extension for the FGN/IFAD Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) to strengthen smallholder farming through 2027.
The Nigerian leader also noted that the appointment underscores the country’s growing influence in international development and multilateral institutions.
Tinubu wished the minister a successful tenure, emphasizing that stable agricultural leadership is critical for global supply chain resilience.
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