Farmers urge Tinubu to attend 2026 national agric show
ABUJA — The National Agricultural Farmers Network (NAFN) has called on President Bola Tinubu to attend the 2026 Annual National Agricultural Show in person and speak directly to Nigerian farmers about his administration's agricultural policies and interventions.
In a statement issued in Abuja and made available to reporters, the network's National Coordinator, Aishatu Ibrahim, said the President's presence would be a recognition of farmers' contributions to food security, job creation and economic growth. She described the show as far more than an exhibition, calling it the largest gathering of Nigerian farmers and agricultural stakeholders on a single platform.
According to Ibrahim, the occasion would give the President a chance to explain what his government has achieved so far and to hear farmers' concerns first-hand. She suggested his address could cover food production policy, agricultural financing, access to inputs, mechanisation, irrigation, storage, processing, market access and the adoption of technology.
The coordinator also urged the federal government to officially designate the show as Nigeria's National Agricultural Day. Rather than creating a new event, she argued, government should build on one that already brings farmers and key institutions together, turning it into an annual platform to celebrate farmers, showcase innovation, attract investment and assess progress in the sector.
She further called on state governors, the National Assembly, traditional rulers, development partners, financial institutions, private investors, researchers and commodity associations to take part, and promoted an integrated value-chain approach so that farmers can produce more, earn more and contribute more to economic growth.
The 2026 show, organised with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), runs from November 16 to 20, with the official opening on November 17. Its theme is “Repositioning Agriculture for National Prosperity,” with a focus on linking smallholder farmers, government and the private sector to technology, finance, markets and value addition.
Visitors can expect agricultural innovations and technologies from the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), produce exhibited by smallholder and large-scale farmers, and participation from federal and state agriculture ministries and agencies, agro-allied companies, financial institutions and commodity groups. A seminar will also examine the challenges and prospects of agriculture, with speakers drawn from academia, government, financial institutions and the farming sector.
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