United Nations’ FAO speaks at Vanguard Economic Discourse on agric sector

By Emeka Anaeto, Business Editor

At the backdrop of a high profile public and private sector engagement over Nigeria’s agriculture and food sector, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations is set to lead discussions on the issues at stake in Nigeria’s capacity to feed itself.

The 2026 edition of the Vanguard Economic Discourse is scheduled to hold next week, Wednesday, April 22, 2026 at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos starting by 9am.

The theme of this year’s edition is Food Security and Socio-economic Stability: Options for Nigeria’s Agriculture Sector Rebound.

Dr. Hussein Gadain, the Resident Representative of the UN/ FAO in Nigeria and to ECOWAS, has been slated to be the Keynote Speaker.
Accepting to play the role, the FAO stated that ‘‘Dr. Gadain looks forward to contributing to the discussions and engaging with the distinguished faculty and panelists to advance dialogue on Nigeria’s agricultural development’’.
The event parades key sector leaders with the Honorable Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, as the chairman.
A group of eminent stakeholders in the Nigeria’s agriculture and food value chain have been assembled as panelists.
The Panel Session would be headed by the Honorable Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Muktar Maiha.
Other Panel members are: Mrs Dede Ekoue, Country Director, International Fund for Agricultural Development, IFAD, in Nigeria; Dr Mrs Moji Davids, Managing Director, Xtralarge Farms & Resorts; Mohammed Magaji, President, All Farmers Association of Nigeria, AFAN; and Arc. Kabir Ibrahim, President of Nigeria Agribusiness Group, NABG.
The eminent stakeholders would also include representatives of financial institutions with the Agric Desks of Commercial Banks in the formal and networking sessions.
Dr. Gadain leads the FAO’s strategic, technical and operational engagement across one of Africa’s largest and most complex humanitarian–development contexts.
A seasoned international development expert with more than 35 years of experience across Africa and the
Arab region, he has dedicated his career to advancing sustainable agriculture, water and land resources management, climate resilience, disaster risk reduction, and food security.
Before his appointment to Nigeria, Dr. Gadain held senior leadership and technical positions within the FAO and other international organizations, contributing to high-impact programmes in Somalia, Sudan, Kenya, Yemen, and the Gulf region.
He has led major initiatives on irrigation
development, early warning systems, resilience building, agro-climatic adaptation, and integrated natural resource management. His work has directly supported governments,
communities, and development partners in addressing drought, food crises, and
climate-induced shocks.
In Nigeria, Dr. Gadain oversees a diverse portfolio of national and regional programmes, and multi-sectoral collaborations with the Government of Nigeria, ECOWAS, donor agencies, UN
partners, civil society, and the private sector.
He plays a central role in policy dialogue, resource mobilization, strategic partnerships, and representation at the highest levels of government and
the UN system.
Dr. Gadain is known for his strong leadership in organizational management, team development, and programme oversight.
He also contributes regularly to high-level panels, media engagements, technical workshops, and multi-stakeholder dialogues focused on
agriculture transformation, climate action, and resilience.
A Sudanese national, Dr. Gadain is multilingual and brings a mix of scientific expertise, policy
experience, and field-based knowledge that reflects decades of service to communities across Africa and the Near East.
He holds a Ph.D. and an M.Sc. in Water Resources Engineering and
a B.Sc. in Civil and Hydraulic Engineering. He continues to champion evidence-based solutions and inclusive approaches for building resilient agro-food systems.
The Vanguard Economic Summit has gained traction in the past eight years as a major public-private sector platform for reviews and cross-fertilization of economic development ideas by Nigeria’s public and private sector leaders.

The post United Nations’ FAO speaks at Vanguard Economic Discourse on agric sector appeared first on Vanguard News.