Nigeria reaffirms commitment to South–South Cooperation at World Food Forum 2025
By Kunle Sanni –
Nigeria has reiterated its commitment to strengthening South–South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC) as a key strategy for transforming agrifood systems and promoting sustainable development among developing nations.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, CON, made the declaration during the Ministerial Dialogue on SSTC at the World Food Forum (WFF) 2025, held in Rome to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
The session, themed “SSTC as a Catalyst for Agrifood System Transformation: Commitments, Approaches, and Experiences from the Countries,” brought together ministers and senior representatives from across the Global South to share experiences and explore new avenues for collaboration.
Senator Kyari said South–South Cooperation has become a vital part of Nigeria’s agricultural development strategy, fostering knowledge exchange, innovation, and inclusive growth. He noted that Nigeria’s partnership with FAO and China under the SSTC framework has yielded tangible results, including advances in technology transfer, farmer training, aquaculture development, and the establishment of Regional Multi-Service Extension Centres nationwide.
The minister outlined Nigeria’s priorities for enhancing the impact of SSTC, which include integrating cooperation programmes into national agricultural strategies, developing flexible financing mechanisms, promoting collaboration on climate-smart agriculture and digital technologies, and advancing sub-regional integration through the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
He stressed that effective cooperation must be rooted in mutual respect, national ownership, and measurable outcomes, describing SSTC as one of the most practical and cost-effective models for achieving food security and shared prosperity.
“The lessons we continue to draw from our partnerships with China, Brazil, and other developing nations reaffirm that the Global South has the capacity, knowledge, and innovation needed to solve its own challenges if we work together in solidarity,” Kyari said.
FAO Director-General, Dr. Qu Dongyu, commended Nigeria and other member countries for their sustained commitment to building inclusive and sustainable agrifood systems. He said the next phase of South–South Cooperation must be backed by stronger institutional frameworks and targeted investments.
