VANGUARD ECONOMIC SUMMIT: Public, private sector leaders set to play lead roles

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•Cabinet ministers, UN agencies lead discussions •Private sector leaders sign up

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By Emeka Anaeto, Business Editor

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Activities ahead of the hosting the 2026 edition of Vanguard Economic Summit (VES’26) have reached advanced stage with key partners gearing up for incisive discussions around the Summit theme.

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Themed, “Food Security and Socio-economic Stability: Options for Nigeria’s Agriculture Sector Rebound”, the event is scheduled to hold on Wednesday, April 22, 2026 at Civic Center, Victoria Island in Lagos by 9am.

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The theme is on the concerns around the challenges of feeding Nigeria’s large, and still rapidly growing population amidst rising cost of living.

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The VES’26, which is the 9th edition of the Summit, has enlisted in its faculty, topmost stakeholders in the agric value chain across public and private sectors as well as global leading institutions in the agric sector.

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The event would be chaired by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, while the keynote speech would be delivered by Dr. Hussein Gadain, United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (UN/ FAO) ECOWAS/ Nigeria Representative.

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The lineup for the panel session includes the Minister of Livestock Development, Alh. Idi Muktar Maiha; Managing Director, Xtralarge Farms & Resorts, Dr Mrs Moji Davids; President, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Mohammed Magaji; President of Nigeria Agribusiness Group (NABG), Arc. Kabir Ibrahim; and the Country Director, International Fund for Agricultural Development, IFAD, Nigeria, Mrs Dede Ekoue.

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The Vanguard Economic Summit is the economic development and thought leadership event hosted by Vanguard Newspapers every year.

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The event has gained traction in the past eight years as a major platform for reviews and cross-fertilization of economic development ideas by Nigeria’s public and private sector leaders.

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The 2026 edition promises to deliver actionable ideas that could transform Nigeria’s agric sector and go a long way in ensuring food security in Nigeria.

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