Nigeria’s agrofood sector attracts foreign machinery manufacturers, suppliers

The country’s growing agricultural sector is drawing interest from foreign machinery manufacturers and suppliers, eager to tap into the market.

The foreign machinery manufacturers and supplier will be exhibiting latest agricultural machines at the upcoming 11th edition Agrofood Nigeria 2026 conference – convene policymakers, manufacturers, buyers, investors, technology providers, and development partners to advance the next phase of Nigeria’s agro-industrial transformation.

In a press briefing ahead of the conference, Freyja Detjen, exhibition director at Fairtrade Messe, said global technology leaders from several countries will showcase the latest technologies and solutions for the Nigerian and West African Markets on agriculture, food and beverage processing, plastics, and packaging.

Detjen noted that the conference provides a platform for collaboration in the agric sector and providing solutions for Nigeria’s food security.

“We are just not a place, but access to international experts you would otherwise have travelled to see,” she said.

“We don’t talk about only price at the exhibition, but also about the value. And it is not only about promotion, but education and letting people know how to use the information,” Detjen said.

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According to her, Agrofood Nigeria is offering the platform for discussions for solutions and developments in Nigeria’s agriculture sector.

“And the trade fair reflects the market, the need of the market to reduce post-harvest losses among other challenges in the sector.

Sola Obadimu, director-general of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), said the agriculture sector remains critical pillar of Nigeria’s economy and central to food security, employment generation, industrial development, export diversification, and poverty reduction.

Obadimu noted that platforms such as Agrofood Nigeria provides invaluable opportunities for dialogue, innovation, investment, and collaboration across the entire value chain as Nigeria continues to pursue sustainable economic transformation.

“Such gatherings are essential for sharing best practices, showcasing innovations, addressing sectorial challenges, and unlocking new opportunities in agribusiness and food processing,” Obadimu said.

On his part, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, director-general, Manufacturing Association of Nigeria (MAN), said the Agrofood Nigeria fair platform aligns to MAN’s long-standing advocacy for industrial growth, food security and local value chain, local value addition.

“This exhibition provides a direct link between Nigerian manufacturers and international technology manufacturers,” Kadir, who was represented by Salami Musa, communication

“The reality of modern manufacturing, rising costs, efficiency demands, quality, standard and global competitiveness required sustained access to world class technologies and best practices,”

“While we remain optimistic that many of the structural challenges comforting our sector within the near future, the immediate tax before us is clear, collaboration, innovation and purpose, road, knowledge, acquisition and transfer,” Ajayi-Kadir said.

He said the platform supports technology acquisition, the adoption of global standards in food processing and packaging and strengthening of Made in Nigeria brand through increased value addition.

Ajayi-Kadir said each of these outcomes contribute directly to economic growth, job creation and national food security.

The Agrofood Nigeria Conference and Exhibition is scheduled for March 24 to 26 at the Landmark Event Centre in Lagos.

The Netherlands, one of the world’s most advanced agri-food economies and the second-largest agricultural exporter globally, will headline agrofood Nigeria 2026 as Guest of Honour and Lead Country Pavilion Exhibitor.

Dutch participation will spotlight globally proven solutions across food processing, cold chain logistics, horticulture, seed technology, packaging, and sustainable production systems, offering practical pathways for Nigeria’s agro-industrial scale-up.