His Excellency, President Dr. Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone participated in a high-level panel discussion with global agricultural and financial experts at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Ibadan, Nigeria. The event was part of his special visit to the institute.
The panel included notable figures such as former World Bank Vice President Hafez Ghanem and the former Assistant Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The discussions centered on agricultural investment and finance, focusing on strategies to enhance food security and economic growth across Africa.
President Bio highlighted the necessity for Africa to move beyond discussions towards tangible actions in agricultural reintegration. He remarked that despite decades of debate, substantial progress has been elusive.
“Africa has signed up for regional economic integration, but we must ensure the free movement of goods and services across our borders,” stated President Bio. He emphasized regional collaboration in agriculture, advocating for mutual respect and shared commitment among African nations.
He also stressed the importance of food sovereignty, urging Africa to produce enough food for domestic consumption and export. “Agricultural transformation should not only focus on feeding our people; we must also position ourselves to export to neighboring countries like Liberia, Senegal, and Ghana, rather than depending on imports from Ukraine,” he asserted.
Explaining his visit's purpose, President Bio expressed his desire to personally assess best practices in agricultural development. “I did not want to rely solely on reports from my Agriculture Minister. I needed to see firsthand what is possible and explore opportunities for collaboration,” he said.
During his visit, President Bio toured the Fasola Agribusiness Industrial Hub in Nigeria, designated as the first Agribusiness Transformation Centre under the African Development Bank (AfDB) Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone programme. He was accompanied by Oyo State Governor Engr. Seyi Makinde and other officials who showcased the facility’s role in advancing agricultural industrialization in Nigeria.
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