Jonathan Urges Greater Investment in Agriculture to Tackle Africa’s Food Security Challenges
Hope Ajayi 
KIGALI, Rwanda – Former President Goodluck Jonathan has called on African governments, development partners and private investors to channel more resources into agriculture, describing the sector as critical to addressing food insecurity, unemployment and economic challenges across the continent.
Jonathan made the appeal while speaking at the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) Investors Forum in Kigali, Rwanda, held alongside the African Food Systems Forum, which attracted more than 5,000 participants from over 50 countries to discuss investment opportunities in Africa’s agricultural sector.
Speaking in his capacity as AATF Goodwill Ambassador for Agricultural Technology, Jonathan said Africa must move beyond policy declarations and commit to practical investments capable of transforming agricultural productivity and improving livelihoods.
He identified three key drivers needed to achieve meaningful agricultural transformation: proven technologies that enhance productivity and climate resilience, long-term investment capital, and large-scale commercialisation that links innovation with farmers and markets.
“Turning this agenda from declaration into tangible impact requires three elements working in concert: proven technologies that raise productivity and strengthen resilience; patient capital that enables long-term investment and growth; and commercialisation at scale that connects innovation to markets and farmers to opportunity,” Jonathan said.
Jonathan stressed that agricultural innovations already proven through research should be rapidly deployed to farmers instead of remaining confined to laboratories or pilot programmes.
Reflecting on his experience in public office, he said sustained investment in agriculture has the potential to create jobs, improve household incomes and strengthen food security across Africa, adding that this conviction motivated his decision to serve as an ambassador for the AATF.
He further called on investors and development partners to support the foundation’s strategic plans over the next five to ten years, saying stronger financial backing would enable the organisation to expand existing agricultural innovations while developing new technologies.
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Korede Abdullah 
Mirian Gom 