ASA 2026: Africa pushes for new Agric finance model, local processing to unlock food power

ASA 2026 was supported by a broad coalition of public, private and development-sector partners, including the International Finance Corporation (IFC), GIZ, UK International Development, Mastercard, IDH, the National Agricultural Development Fund, Development Bank of Nigeria, Federal Ministry of Livestock, YAPU Solutions, Sterling One Foundation, Saroafrica, ARILA Group, ThriveAgric, AFEX, Propcom+ (UK Aid), BATN Foundation, Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), Noor Takaful, Leadway Assurance, and other organisations across finance, agribusiness, technology, insurance and development.

Speakers and delegates over the two days included Senator Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security; Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security; Dr Benjamin Ashaver, Benue StateCommissioner forAgricultureandFoodSecurity; Sarah Ockman, IFC’s Upstream Advisory Manager for Agribusiness in Africa; Dr Janett-Star Erastus, Chief Veterinarian in Namibia’s Directorate of Veterinary Services, and industry leaders across processing, insurance, logistics and technology.

Olapeju Ibekwe, Chief Executive Officer, ONE Foundation; Chief Ruth Ozigbo, Programme Coordinator for Agriculture Summit Africa, and Oame Airauhi, Group Head, Transaction Banking at Sterling Bank, were among those who guided sessions across the two days.