By Michael Adaji, Communications Specialist

The USAID-funded West Africa Trade & Investment Hub convened a landmark Partnership Summit on June 24, 2024, at the Abuja Continental Hotel in Abuja, Nigeria. The event, themed “Collaborating for Enhanced Food Security in Nigeria-Fostering Competitiveness, Sustainability, and Resilience,” brought together Trade Hub grantees, private-sector experts, government representatives, industry leaders, and agro-focused associations to share experiences and lessons learned from Trade Hub co-investment projects, particularly considering challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, insecurity, and inflation.

The Summit, which was the culmination of five years of impactful work by the Trade Hub, provided participants with an opportunity for reflective learning, reviewing the achievements of the Trade Hub in Nigeria through dynamic panel discussions, insightful presentations, product showcases, and networking sessions.

Photo: Office Director of Economic Growth, Agriculture, and Power, USAID/Nigeria, Michelle Corzine, speaking at the Event. Credit: Trade Hub

Speaking at the event, the Office Director of Economic Growth, Agriculture, and Power, USAID/Nigeria, Michelle Corzine, applauded the role of the Trade Hub and its partners in strengthening food systems, increasing incomes, and promoting inclusive agro development in Nigeria. “I am pleased to share that the Trade Hub’s success is contributing to the promising success stories of Nigeria,” Corzine stated.  

In his remarks, the representative of the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Engr. Ibrahim Alkali, recognized the Trade Hub collaborative model as crucial to economic development, sharing, “The partnership is key to sustainability, resilience, and overcoming challenges in agriculture.”

Photo: The Representative of the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Engr. Ibrahim Alkali, Speaking at the Event. Credit: Trade Hub

One of the key features of the event was the structured business-to-business pitching and networking sessions that underlined the Trade Hub’s commitment to fostering post-project sustainability through strategic partnerships. According to Mr. Ben Ekanikpong of El-Kanis Agro, who took part in the networking session, “As a result of this networking opportunity, we have been able to develop the necessary relationship with the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation, which will enable us to get the best coverage for our mill.”

From R – L: Mr. Robin Wheeler, Trade Hub Chief of Party; Engr. Ibrahim Alkali, Special Assistant to the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security; Michelle Corzine, Office Director of Economic Growth, Agriculture, and Power, USAID/Nigeria; and Dr. Popoola Mustapha of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.

The partnership summit in Abuja not only celebrated the Trade Hub’s successes but also fostered new business connections and future partnerships, ensuring that the positive impacts of its initiatives extend well beyond its direct involvement to further enhance food security and inclusive, sustainable economic growth in Nigeria.