In The Spotlight
Nigeria is taking a significant step to strengthen its startup ecosystem with the launch of a new US$50mn Impact Innovation Fund.
The initiative is a joint effort between the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority and the Japan International Cooperation Agency, designed to support early stage businesses working to solve key social challenges.
The fund will focus on startups operating in areas such as agriculture, healthcare, education, energy, waste and water management. By targeting these sectors, the initiative aims to support solutions that directly improve everyday life while also driving economic growth.
JICA will contribute US$14mn in grant funding, while NSIA will provide up to US$20mn to match the support. The fund will operate as a public investment platform within Nigeria, combining financial backing with technical support. This approach is intended to help startups develop their products, strengthen their operations and expand into new markets.
Beyond funding, the initiative is expected to play a wider role in job creation and improving livelihoods. By backing innovative businesses at an early stage, the fund aims to unlock new opportunities and encourage long term development across the country.
Aminu Umar Sadiq,Managing Director and CEO of NSIA,said, “The Fund represents a transformative step for Nigeria’s startup ecosystem. By providing early-stage ventures in high-impact sectors with the capital and support they need to grow, we are enabling innovators to tackle some of Nigeria’s most pressing challenges. Our collaboration with JICA underscores our commitment to entrepreneurship, inclusive growth, and sustainable development.”
Work is already underway to put the fund into action, with plans to identify and support promising startups ready for investment. The focus will be on building a strong pipeline of businesses that can deliver real impact while also scaling sustainably.
NSIA continues to position itself as a key driver of economic progress through partnerships that expand access to funding, encourage innovation and support inclusive growth across Nigeria.
Ethiopia is increasing its focus on transforming the agribusiness sector, with government leaders encouraging greater private investment to improve food security and reduce dependence on imports.
The move reflects a wider national effort to strengthen domestic production and build a more resilient agricultural system.
Agriculture Minister Addisu Arega highlighted the important role private investors play in driving change across the sector. Speaking at a stakeholder consultation forum in Addis Ababa, he noted that Ethiopia’s Medemer State philosophy places strong emphasis on achieving food self sufficiency and supporting long term growth.
“The concept of Medemer is primarily focused on ensuring that the country achieves sufficient food production and becomes self-sufficient,” Addisu said.
The country is currently rolling out reforms under its updated Agricultural and Rural Development Policy, where agricultural investment has been identified as a key priority. The government is looking to increase both the scale and quality of production by encouraging more participation from private businesses.
At present, around 8,742 investors are active in the sector, with close to 2.3 million hectares of land allocated for agricultural use. However, performance remains uneven, with only a portion of the land being fully utilised.
“Only about 45 percent of the allocated land is currently under active use, which shows the need to strengthen productivity and operational efficiency,” he said.
Addisu also pointed out that Ethiopia still trails behind several countries in agribusiness development, particularly in adopting modern technology and innovative farming methods. He referenced Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia as examples where innovation has helped boost productivity and competitiveness.
State Minister of Agriculture Meles Mekonen reinforced the sector’s importance to the national economy, especially in creating jobs and supporting livelihoods.
“Agriculture not only provides a foundation for food security but also creates employment opportunities, particularly for a large number of youths and women,” Meles said.
He added that improving access to modern techniques, better land use and continued government support will be key to unlocking the sector’s full potential and ensuring reliable access to safe and affordable food.
Dangote Group has moved decisively to reshape Ethiopia’s agricultural future by securing a long term gas supply agreement to support a major fertiliser project in the east of the country.
The deal, announced on 16 March, spans 25 years and was signed with GCL Group. Valued at around US$4.2bn, it will provide the energy needed for a large fertiliser plant currently being built in Gode.
Gas for the project will come from the Calub field and will be transported through a 108 kilometre pipeline directly to the plant. This direct link is expected to reduce supply risks and improve efficiency, something that has often been a challenge for industrial developments across the continent.
Aliko Dangote, chairman and chief executive of Dangote Industries Limited, said, "Through seamless integration and strategic cooperation with GCL, we will achieve an efficient closed-loop value chain from natural gas extraction to fertiliser production, taking a crucial step toward enabling Africa to secure greater autonomy over its food security."
GCL has been working with the Ethiopian government on the Ogaden gas project since 2013. The first phase began operations on 2 October 2025 and can produce 111 million litres of liquefied natural gas each year. Plans for a second phase aim to increase output significantly, although no timeline has been confirmed.
The fertiliser plant in Gode is expected to start operating by 2029, with an annual capacity of three million tonnes of urea. The project represents an investment of US$2.5bn and is intended to reduce Ethiopia’s reliance on imported fertilisers while supplying neighbouring markets.
At present, Ethiopia produces no inorganic fertilisers domestically and imported about 2.32 million tonnes in 2024. Once completed, this project could transform the country’s agricultural supply chain and strengthen food production across the region.
Africa will take another important step towards reshaping its food future as leaders, partners and institutions gather for the 4th Africa Food Systems Transformation Meeting in Accra, Ghana, on 4–5 May 2026.
The hybrid event will bring together National Food Systems Convenors and representatives from across the continent to review progress and strengthen action on national food systems pathways developed in recent years.
The meeting comes at a crucial moment following key regional developments such as CAADP Kampala in January 2025 and the UN Food Systems Summit +4 Stocktake (UNFSS+4). It aims to provide a practical, country driven space where governments and partners can assess what has worked, identify persistent challenges and coordinate stronger support for food systems transformation as the continent moves towards the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
Organised by the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub in partnership with the UN Economic Commission for Africa, the African Union Commission, AUDA NEPAD and other regional institutions, the gathering will bring together a wide range of voices. Participants will include government leaders, UN agencies, development partners, civil society organisations, youth networks, Indigenous Peoples’ groups, research institutions and private sector representatives. Their shared goal is to create stronger collaboration and deliver solutions that reflect Africa’s realities.
Since 2021, more than forty African countries have designed national pathways to transform their food systems. These strategies show a growing political commitment to improving nutrition, supporting livelihoods, strengthening climate resilience and driving economic growth. Yet the pace of implementation remains uneven. Fragmented governance, gaps in financing, climate shocks, conflict and limited investment in science, innovation and technology continue to slow progress.
Recent regional dialogues, including the 2024 Africa Food Systems Transformation Meeting and the 2025 regional gathering ahead of UNFSS+4, underlined the need to shift from planning to delivery. There is increasing recognition that stronger policy alignment, greater investment and locally driven solutions are essential. Women, young people, smallholder farmers and community organisations are expected to play a central role in this transition.
The Accra meeting will focus on sharing lessons between countries, strengthening partnerships and promoting scalable solutions through the Ecosystem of Support and the Hub’s flagship initiatives. Discussions will be guided by the six priority areas outlined in the UNFSS+4 Secretary General’s Call to Action, with the aim of accelerating meaningful food systems transformation across Africa in the years leading to 2030.
South Africa has stepped up its response to Foot and mouth disease with the arrival of one million high potency vaccines at OR Tambo International Airport.
The shipment was received under the supervision of John Steenhuisen, Agriculture Minister marking a significant boost to the national vaccination drive already under way in affected regions.
The vaccines were supplied by Biogénesis Bagó in Argentina and form part of a broader supply programme. Further consignments are expected in the coming weeks from BVI in Botswana and Dollvet in Turkey. By the end of March, more than five million doses from these three international suppliers are set to arrive in the country.
At home, the Agricultural Research Council has committed to producing 20 000 vaccines per week, with plans to increase output to 200 000 per week in 2027. The expanded supply will allow authorities to move beyond targeted outbreak response and work towards wider suppression of the virus in high risk areas.
Steenhuisen said, “Vaccination has already begun in affected areas, but supply has limited the speed and coverage. With this arrival, we can now accelerate protection across priority provinces and stabilise the livestock sector.”
Outbreaks have been reported in every province, prompting quarantine measures, movement restrictions and ongoing surveillance. A risk based vaccination strategy will focus first on outbreak centres in KwaZulu Natal and parts of Gauteng, Free State and North West, before extending to other high risk and border regions.
The initial one million doses will be shared across all provinces, with KwaZulu Natal and Free State receiving the largest allocations. However, the minister warned that vaccines alone will not end the crisis.
“Quarantine rules, movement permits and biosecurity measures exist to protect every farmer in the country. Those who deliberately move animals illegally, conceal infections, or ignore restrictions threaten the recovery of the entire sector. Where there is wilful non compliance, we will work with law enforcement authorities and the full might of the law will be applied,” Steenhuisen added.
He will visit Mooi River in KwaZulu Natal on 27 February to vaccinate dairy cattle alongside veterinarians and farmers. “The dairy industry has been among the hardest hit with significant production losses, disrupted markets and immense strain on farming families. That visit marks the practical beginning of recovery at farm level. Each vaccinated herd means stability returning to a business, wages returning to workers and milk returning to shelves.”
“We are moving step by step from crisis management to control,” Minister Steenhuisen concluded. “Vaccines are arriving, the system is scaling up, and compliance will be enforced. Working together, we will stabilise the sector and rebuild confidence in South Africa’s animal health system.”
EIB Global and the Bank of Industry (BOI) have signed an US$98.64mn agreement to strengthen agricultural value chains in Nigeria, with a strong focus on sustainability and private sector development.
The partnership, announced during the Nigeria-EU Ministerial Summit in Abuja, targets cooperatives, MSMEs, and private sector companies, with at least 70 percent of loans directed to the cocoa and dairy sectors.
The initiative, supported under the EU Global Gateway programme, aligns with Nigeria’s goals for sustainable agriculture, financial inclusion, and rural development. The funding is dedicated to enhancing productivity, improving value addition, and creating stronger linkages across the agricultural value chains, ultimately boosting incomes and livelihoods for processors and agribusinesses.
Olasupo Olusi, Managing Director and CEO of BOI, said,“This agreement reinforces the Bank of Industry’s commitment to unlocking long-term, affordable finance for priority sectors that drive inclusive growth.By partnering with EIB Global, BOI is scaling support for sustainable agriculture, strengthening critical value chains and enabling Nigerian agribusinesses to grow competitively while meeting international environmental and social standards.”
The project also emphasises compliance with environmental and social standards, the EU Regulation on Deforestation, and EU environmental guidelines. It aims to conserve biodiversity, reduce environmental impacts, and promote inclusive rural development, consistent with the EIB Climate Roadmap and the EU Green Deal. In addition, EIB Global will provide technical assistance to support BOI’s climate action strategy and strengthen the agriculture sector’s capacity to manage environmental and social risks.
Ambroise Fayolle, Vice President of EIB, said, “I am delighted that EIB is financing this project with the Bank of Industry for the development of agricultural value chains in Nigeria, including sustainable cocoa. Such investment is important for the country in terms of employment, health, and economy, with real impact on local population.” He added that the initiative aligns with the EU Global Gateway strategy and supports the sustainable transformation of Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
Jozef Sikela, Commissioner for International Partnership of the European Commission, added, “This investment strengthens cocoa and dairy value chains in Nigeria, where both sectors already employ thousands of farmers and workers and have clear potential for local processing and growth. This way, we help create more jobs and ensure that more value stays in Nigeria.”
Since 1978, EIB has invested US$2.67bn in Nigeria, supporting transformative projects in sustainable urban transport, climate adaptation, innovation, digitalisation, and agribusiness, helping to drive long-term economic growth.
The redesigned New Holland T7 Standard Wheelbase tractor, now available in the new Dynamic Blue colour. (Image credit: New Holland)
New Holland has given its T7 Standard Wheelbase tractor range a thorough rethink, and the result is a machine that feels genuinely fresh from the ground up.
Covering the 180 to 225hp bracket, the updated lineup brings a sharper look, smarter technology and some meaningful mechanical changes that will matter to anyone spending long days behind the wheel.
"We've completely reimagined the key design features of the T7 Standard Wheelbase tractor range," says New Holland Standard Wheelbase Global Product Manager, Manfred Pfleger. "Significant upgrades include a new cab design, a new operator interface and armrest, and a more compact front end, core for a tractor range that competes in an important sector of the market with a broad customer base. The redesigned suspension delivers greater comfort and control, and complements the light weight, high-capacity design of this range to boost productivity and performance."
One of the standout changes is the new front axle, offered in standard or heavy duty form, with dual accumulators delivering a noticeably smoother ride. Combined with a redesigned bonnet and a new axle support, the turning circle has been slashed by 17%, dropping from 14.3 metres down to 11.4 metres. That kind of improvement makes headland manoeuvring far less of a chore.
Under the new sloping bonnet sits a Stage V FPT NEF 6.7 litre engine, now reaching peak power at just 1,500rpm to keep fuel consumption and noise in check. Service intervals stretch to 750 hours, and diesel capacity has grown to 350 litres. The T7.225 with Dynamic Command transmission recently posted best-in-class fuel efficiency at the German DLG test centre, consuming just 243g/kWh.
Inside the cab, the new SideWinder armrest puts everything within easy reach, with the option to specify the IntelliView 12 touchscreen, electronic remote valves and a refined CommandGrip multifunction handle. Cab space has grown, climate control is improved and storage has been expanded throughout.
All models come with connectivity included as standard, supporting remote dealer monitoring and data driven efficiency. The range also debuts New Holland's striking new Dynamic Blue colour scheme, which will roll out across future models.
