President/Chief Executive of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, has stated that sound policy frameworks and technological advancement are critical to Africa achieving food security.
Speaking over the weekend during a courtesy visit by the AfricaRice Centre—a pan-African Centre of Excellence for rice research, development, and capacity building—at his Lagos office, Dangote highlighted agriculture as a key pillar for sustainable development on the continent.
“Africa is richly endowed with arable land. With the right policies, adequate investment, and the adoption of modern technology, farmers can significantly increase their yields and return on investment,” he said.
He noted that strengthening agriculture could help tackle many of the continent’s socio-economic challenges, given its role as a major source of employment and income.
Director General of AfricaRice, Dr Baboucarr Manneh, commended Dangote’s renewed focus on agricultural investments, describing it as a critical step towards achieving food security on the continent.
He also lauded the recently formalised partnership with Niger State, noting its potential to transform regional food systems.
He further emphasised the importance of leveraging public-private partnerships to strengthen the agricultural ecosystem, combining government leadership with private sector expertise and investment.
“This partnership can serve as a blueprint for other states and countries across the continent. With strong support from agricultural science and research, it can dramatically boost productivity and reduce Africa’s reliance on food imports,” he added.
Dr Manneh also called for better management of imports to support local farmers and strengthen domestic economies.