The Innovation Lab for Policy Leadership in Agriculture and Food Security (PiLAF), in collaboration with the Nigerian Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (NIFAAS), hosted the 16th Edition of its Brown Bag Series on November 13, 2025. The session brought together experts to examine the role of policy in enhancing agricultural extension for climate-resilient food systems in Nigeria.
Dr. Nathaniel Olutegbe (NIFAAS) moderated the discussion, with insightful contributions from Dr. Dr. Issa Fadlullah (President, NIFAAS), Professor Sidiqat A. Abdulwahab (Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, University of Ilorin), and Dr. Benjamin Oyelami (Policy Communication Manager, PiLAF).
Climate Change and Its Growing Impact on Nigerian Agriculture
Speakers emphasized the intensifying effects of climate change on agriculture.
Professor Abdulwahab highlighted increasing temperatures, erratic rainfall, and extreme weather events as key drivers of declining crop yields, livestock productivity, resource conflicts, and worsening human well-being.
Dr. Fadlullah Olayiwola added evidence of heightened flooding, drought, pest outbreaks, and soil degradation factors contributing to widespread production losses. These climate-related disruptions are already translating into higher food prices, income instability, and deeper food insecurity for millions of Nigerians.
Dr. Benjamin Oyelami referenced May 2025 World News projection indicates that 31 million Nigerians may face food insecurity due to water scarcity for crop production, reinforcing the urgency of policy-driven climate action.
Assessing Nigeria’s Climate-Related Agricultural Policies
Nigeria has developed several policy documents addressing climate adaptation, including the National Adaptation Plan, the Agriculture Promotion Policy, National Agricultural Technology and Innovation Policy (NATIP), and the Climate Change Act (2021). However, Dr. Oyelami emphasized that despite the abundance of policy frameworks, implementation remains weak, coordination is limited, and many interventions are reactive rather than preventive. Good policies exist on paper, but translating them into action remains a systemic challenge.
Mainstreaming Climate Adaptation into Agricultural Extension
Panelists agreed that climate adaptation is gradually being integrated into extension training and programming. Extension agents are increasingly exposed to climate-smart practices; however, significant gaps persist:
- Slow implementation of national extension policies
- Limited focus on livestock relative to crops
- Poor digital infrastructure to support modern extension delivery
- Weak connectivity and low digital literacy
Dr. Benjamin Oyelami stressed that digitalizing extension is essential to address Nigeria’s high extension-to-farmer ratio, but this requires significant investment in internet connectivity and extension infrastructure.
Connecting Climate Solutions to the Grassroots
A central theme was the need for community-driven, bottom-up approaches.
Professor Abdulwahab emphasized that many farmers already use climate-smart practices unknowingly. Increasing awareness, boosting community involvement, and training local leaders are key to expanding climate adaptation.
Suggestions included:
- Incentives such as subsidized drought-tolerant seeds
- Stronger partnerships with NGOs, the private sector, and community-based organizations
- Tailored information delivery to rural communities
- Building the capacity of extension officers and community facilitators
Participants noted that sustainable climate action must be driven by farmers themselves, not imposed from above.
Raising Farmer Awareness and Strengthening Response Mechanisms
Dr. Benjamin Oyelami emphasized that farmers are already facing the realities of climate change but often lack understanding of its root causes. Converting climate science into actionable awareness is crucial.
The speakers called for increased investments in:
- Irrigation systems
- Drought-tolerant seed multiplication
- Participatory extension approaches
Education and awareness creation remain essential to bridging the gap between climate impacts and community resilience.
Digital Agriculture: Untapped Opportunities
In a conversation on leveraging the digital revolution, panelists noted that digital adoption in agriculture remains slow, while tools such as mobile apps, radio programs, and digital advisories exist, challenges persist:
- Low digital literacy
- High data costs
- Limited access to climate data
- Weak digital infrastructure
- Poor system integration across agencies
Dr. Nathaniel Olutegbe pointed out that, despite high internet penetration even in rural areas, Nigeria experiences a “cultural lag” in the adoption of digital tools for agriculture.
Learning from Global Success Stories
Dr. Benjamin Oyelami cited examples from Kenya and India, where integrated digital platforms such as Kenya Integrated Agricultural Management Information System (KANIS) and AgriStack enable seamless access to markets, inputs, insurance, and advisory services.
Nigeria’s past success with the e-voucher input subsidy program (GES) demonstrates what is possible when political will aligns with digital innovation. The challenge remains sustaining such reforms over time.
Speakers stressed the urgent need for:
- Stronger coordination across ministries and agencies
- Improved integration of existing databases (NIN, BVN, farmer registers)
- Policy frameworks that support private sector innovation
Coordinating Academia, Development Actors, and Policymakers
Participants highlighted the disconnect between academia and practitioners. Dr. Benjamin Oyelami encouraged researchers to engage policymakers through:
- Policy briefs
- Infographics
- Evidence-based research
- Targeted stakeholder engagement
Development partners also require a coordination hub to ensure alignment with national priorities.
Building Visibility of Agricultural Experts in National Policy Spaces
To elevate agricultural policy and extension experts within macroeconomic policymaking, Professor Abdulwahab recommended simplifying climate communication using relatable, everyday examples. Integrating climate issues into school curricula was also highlighted as a long-term strategy for national awareness.
Dr. Benjamin Oyelami added that continuous advocacy, evidence-based engagement, and presenting policy-ready insights remain key to influencing decision-makers.
Conclusion
Closing remarks from Dr. Olayiwola and Dr. Oreoluwa Akano emphasized the importance of translating Nigeria’s numerous policy documents into actionable programs. The session reaffirmed the critical role of collaboration between government, academia, private sector, and communities in building climate-resilient food systems.
PiLAF and NIFAAS expressed appreciation to all speakers, participants, and partners committed to advancing agricultural policy leadership and climate-smart extension systems in Nigeria.