UN Food Agency Addresses Vanguard Economic Forum to Discuss Agriculture Industry

The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations is poised to spearhead discussions on Nigeria's agriculture and food sector at a high-profile event, following extensive engagement between public and private sector stakeholders on the issue of the country's capacity to feed itself.

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The 2026 edition of the Vanguard Economic Discourse is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, commencing at 9am, with the theme Food Security and Socio-economic Stability: Options for Nigeria’s Agriculture Sector Rebound.

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Dr. Hussein Gadain, the Resident Representative of the UN/FAO in Nigeria and to ECOWAS, will deliver the keynote address, and has expressed his eagerness to contribute to the discussions and engage with the distinguished faculty and panelists to advance dialogue on Nigeria’s agricultural development.

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The event will be chaired by the Honorable Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, and will feature a panel session headed by the Honorable Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Muktar Maiha, alongside other key sector leaders.

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A group of eminent stakeholders in Nigeria's agriculture and food value chain have been assembled as panelists, including Mrs Dede Ekoue, Country Director, International Fund for Agricultural Development, IFAD, in Nigeria, and Dr Mrs Moji Davids, Managing Director, Xtralarge Farms & Resorts.

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Other panel members include Mohammed Magaji, President, All Farmers Association of Nigeria, AFAN, and Arc. Kabir Ibrahim, President of Nigeria Agribusiness Group, NABG, who will engage in discussions with representatives of financial institutions, including the Agric Desks of Commercial Banks.

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Dr. Gadain brings over 35 years of experience in international development, spanning Africa and the Arab region, with a focus on advancing sustainable agriculture, water and land resources management, climate resilience, disaster risk reduction, and food security.

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Prior to his appointment to Nigeria, Dr. Gadain held senior leadership and technical positions within the FAO and other international organizations, contributing to high-impact programmes in countries such as Somalia, Sudan, Kenya, Yemen, and the Gulf region.

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He has led major initiatives on irrigation development, early warning systems, resilience building, agro-climatic adaptation, and integrated natural resource management, with his work directly supporting governments, communities, and development partners in addressing drought, food crises, and climate-induced shocks.

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In Nigeria, Dr. Gadain oversees a diverse portfolio of national and regional programmes, and multi-sectoral collaborations with the Government of Nigeria, ECOWAS, donor agencies, UN partners, civil society, and the private sector, playing a central role in policy dialogue, resource mobilization, strategic partnerships, and representation.

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Dr. Gadain is a seasoned international development expert, known for his strong leadership in organizational management, team development, and programme oversight, and contributes regularly to high-level panels, media engagements, technical workshops, and multi-stakeholder dialogues focused on agriculture transformation, climate action, and resilience.

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A Sudanese national, Dr. Gadain holds a Ph.D. and an M.Sc. in Water Resources Engineering and a B.Sc. in Civil and Hydraulic Engineering, and continues to champion evidence-based solutions and inclusive approaches for building resilient agro-food systems.

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The Vanguard Economic Summit has established itself as a major public-private sector platform for reviews and cross-fertilization of economic development ideas by Nigeria’s public and private sector leaders over the past eight years.