Sasakawa Africa president meets Obasanjo, IFAD, Japan envoy, reaffirms commitment to Nigeria’s food security

Shuichi Suzuki, president of the Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA), has reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s food security and supporting smallholder farmers.

Suzuki made this known on Monday during a visit to former President Olusegun Obasanjo in Abeokuta, as part of his week-long familiarisation visit to Nigeria, the Association said in a statement.

The visit is aimed at deepening discussions on the Japanese organisation’s long-standing involvement in agricultural development and food security across the country.

Obasanjo commended the Sasakawa Africa Association for its consistent commitment and investment in Nigeria’s agricultural sector and the continent at large.

He urged African leaders to emulate SAA’s approach by sustaining investments in agriculture, stressing that continuity is essential for achieving true agricultural transformation.

“Continuity in agricultural investment is key to achieving food security and rural transformation. African leaders must emulate SAA’s consistency and long-term vision,” Obasanjo said.

In his remarks, Suzuki said the visit was to strengthen ties with Nigeria and to reiterate SAA’s commitment to agricultural development.

He noted that beyond oil and gas, Nigeria’s greatest assets are agriculture and its rapidly growing youthful population.

“Our goal is to strengthen agricultural extension systems and empower smallholder farmers to drive inclusive growth,” he stated.

Godwin Atser, country director of SAA in Nigeria, described the visit as strategic, explaining that it afforded the SAA President an opportunity to better understand the realities, challenges, and achievements within Nigeria’s agricultural sector.

Atser revealed that the Association, through its various agricultural extension and advisory models, has reached over 20 million farmers across Nigeria in the last three decades. He, however, noted that more still needs to be done to reach additional farmers and strengthen food systems.

Founded in 1986 and headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, the Sasakawa Africa Association is a non-governmental organisation focused on agricultural extension and smallholder farmer development. It currently operates in four African countries — Nigeria, Ethiopia, Mali, and Uganda — where it partners with governments and development agencies to promote climate-smart technologies and enhance rural livelihoods.

Prior to his visit to Obasanjo, Suzuki held high-level meetings in Abuja with key stakeholders, including the Suzuki Hideo, ambassador of Japan to Nigeria, Olawumi Ayodele, director of Extension, Federal Department of Agriculture, and Dede Ekoue, the Country Director of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

Read also: Sasakawa Africa promotes climate-smart agriculture across five states

This marks Suzuki’s first official engagement in Nigeria since assuming office as President of SAA. Before joining the Association, he had a distinguished career with Sumitomo Corporation, where he served in senior executive roles in Baghdad, Singapore, Paris, and London.

He later rose to the position of corporate officer, executive officer, and general manager of the Steel Pipe Division before leading the Energy Division, promoting global business expansion and sustainability.

Following his retirement from Sumitomo in 2019, Suzuki served as Advisor and Counselor to the Mineral Resources and Chemicals Business Unit, as well as Chairman of GYXIS Corporation.

Throughout his career, he has remained a strong advocate for sustainable growth, international collaboration, and responsible resource management.