The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, has emerged as Chairman of the Governing Council of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
According to a statement, Kyari was appointed at the 49th Session of the IFAD Governing Council meeting held in Rome, Italy, on Tuesday.
The minister said his appointment was not a personal accolade but a responsibility to vulnerable rural populations across the world.
In his acceptance speech, Kyari pledged to promote unity and inclusiveness across continents, promising impartial and strategically focused leadership to foster consensus, strengthen multilateral cooperation, and uphold IFAD’s credibility.
“It is with humility and a strong sense of duty that I accept this role,” Kyari said. “I take this mandate not as a personal honour, but as a responsibility to millions of rural women and men worldwide.”
He reaffirmed his commitment to IFAD’s mission of remaining financially robust, policy-driven, and impact-focused.
Kyari also thanked President Bola Tinubu for positioning Nigeria as a leader in global development cooperation.
The minister commended the outgoing IFAD chairman, Christophe Schiltz, for his leadership, noting the challenges facing global food systems, including climate shocks, economic volatility, conflicts, and population pressures.
He assured that with determination and innovation, partnerships would be strengthened to ensure no rural community is left behind.
“Together, we will advance policies that empower farmers, enhance resilience, unlock rural enterprise, and secure sustainable food systems for future generations,” he said.
