Abuja: The National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) have formalized a partnership through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at advancing agricultural data generation, validation, sharing, and analysis. This collaboration is poised to support evidence-based financing, policymaking, and investment within Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the agreement was signed in Abuja, where NADF Executive Secretary, Mohammed Ibrahim, emphasized that the partnership marks the inception of a strategic collaboration designed to bolster the quality and utilization of agricultural statistics. Ibrahim stressed that reliable data is the cornerstone of effective agricultural development, planning, program implementation, and impact assessment. He noted that the collaboration would enable NADF to make better-informed investment decisions and deliver more impactful interventions throughout the agricultural value chain.
Although NADF was established by an Act of Parliament in 2022, Ibrahim highlighted that the fund has consistently sought strategic partnerships to enhance its mandate delivery. He remarked that this collaboration emerges at a crucial moment as NADF expands its support for agricultural financing, research, donor coordination, and sub-national agricultural development. He stated, ‘Data is our chief enabler. We want every intervention and investment we make to be guided by credible evidence. Working with NBS will strengthen our ability to design programs that respond to real needs and deliver measurable results.’
Earlier, Adeyemi Adeniran, Chief Executive Officer of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), expressed that the agreement signifies both institutions’ dedication to fortifying the agricultural sector through improved statistics and closer collaboration. Adeniran explained that the partnership would establish a shared framework for agricultural data exchange, validation, and harmonization, providing policymakers and investors with reliable information. He stated, ‘Agriculture deserves better data, and together we intend to build it because reliable statistics remain the foundation of good governance, sound planning, and effective investment.’
Adeniran further remarked that the partnership would enhance the monitoring of agricultural programs, support investment decisions, and bolster national food security by ensuring that key decisions are evidence-driven rather than assumption-based. As the Statistician-General of the Federation, he assured stakeholders that both institutions would uphold the highest standards of data governance and confidentiality in implementing the agreement. He commended NADF’s growing role in agricultural development and expressed confidence that the partnership would yield tangible benefits for farmers, policymakers, and investors.
Additionally, Nasir Ingawa of NADF’s Partnership and Investor Relations Department described the MoU as the culmination of a productive relationship between the two organizations. He noted that the formal partnership would deepen collaboration and ensure that agricultural interventions are supported by credible, fit-for-purpose data.