Obasanjo, Sasakawa partner to boost agriculture

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has hosted the President of the Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA), Shuichi Suzuki, at his Abeokuta residence in Ogun State to explore deeper collaboration in driving agricultural growth and improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in Nigeria and across Africa.

Commending SAA for its sustained commitment to agricultural development and food security, Obasanjo urged African leaders to emulate the organisation’s consistency in investing in agriculture.

“African leaders must learn from SAA’s example by sustaining investments in agriculture.

“Continuity is essential for achieving lasting transformation in the sector,” Obasanjo said.

Suzuki explained that his visit was part of his familiarisation tour of Nigeria aimed at strengthening SAA’s engagement and expanding its impact in the country’s agricultural sector.

“Beyond oil and gas, Nigeria’s greatest assets are agriculture and its young, growing population,” he noted, adding that the sector holds enormous potential to drive economic diversification and national development.

Both leaders discussed strategies to accelerate Nigeria’s agricultural transformation through initiatives that empower farmers, promote sustainable food systems, and strengthen institutional capacity.

SAA Country Director in Nigeria, Dr. Godwin Atser, described the visit as strategic, saying it provided Suzuki an opportunity to assess Nigeria’s agricultural potential, challenges, and the progress SAA has made.

“SAA has reached over 20 million farmers in Nigeria through innovative agricultural extension models in the past three decades,” Atser said.

“However, there is still much more to be done to reach additional farmers and enhance productivity.”

Founded in 1986 and headquartered in Tokyo, SAA focuses on improving smallholder productivity through agricultural extension, climate-smart technologies, and capacity development.

The organisation operates in Ethiopia, Nigeria, Mali, and Uganda, and has been active in Nigeria since 1992, partnering with governments and development agencies to enhance food security and rural livelihoods.

Before meeting with Obasanjo, Suzuki held talks in Abuja with Japan’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Hideo Suzuki; Director of Extension at the Federal Department of Extension, Olawumi Ayodele; and IFAD Country Director, Dede Ekoue.

This marks Suzuki’s first official visit to Nigeria since assuming leadership of SAA.

He brings decades of international experience from Sumitomo Corporation, where he held senior executive roles in Baghdad, Singapore, Paris, and London, and later led the company’s Energy Division, promoting global sustainability initiatives.

Following his retirement in 2019, he continued to advocate for sustainable development as Advisor and Counselor to Sumitomo’s Mineral Resources and Chemicals Business Unit and as Chairman of GYXIS Corporation.