Dangote Pushes for Africa’s Food Security as AfricaRice Seeks Strategic Partnerships
Africa’s journey toward food self-sufficiency received renewed attention at the weekend as Aliko Dangote, President and Chief Executive of Dangote Industries Limited, called for greater prioritisation of agriculture across the continent.
Dangote, who hosted a delegation from the AfricaRice Centre—a pan-African centre of excellence for rice research, development, and capacity building—at his Lagos office, stressed that food security must remain at the heart of Africa’s development agenda.
“Africa is richly endowed with arable land. With the right policies, adequate investment, and modern technology, our farmers can significantly boost yields and returns,” Dangote said. “Agriculture can tackle many of the continent’s socio-economic challenges, being a major source of both employment and income.”
He maintained that robust policy frameworks and technological innovation would not only guarantee food security but also drive growth across other sectors of the African economy.
Dangote Rice Limited, a subsidiary of the conglomerate, is already contributing to this vision. The company recently entered into a landmark ₦1.8 trillion purchase and sale agreement with Niger Foods Security Systems and Logistics Company Limited, owned by the Niger State Government. The deal will guarantee a steady supply of high-quality paddy rice, reinforcing Nigeria’s broader food security goals.
Through its rice mills, plantations, and out-grower schemes, Dangote Rice has invested heavily in building a value chain that creates jobs and advances national self-sufficiency in staple food production.
Speaking during the visit, Dr. Baboucarr Manneh, Director General of AfricaRice, praised Dangote’s commitment to agriculture, describing it as a critical lever for achieving food security across Africa. He particularly applauded the Niger State partnership, which he said could transform regional food systems.
“Niger State has set an ambitious target of producing five million tonnes of rice in the next five years. Considering that Africa currently imports about 15 million tonnes annually, this milestone would make a significant difference,” Dr. Manneh noted.
He underscored the need for stronger public-private partnerships to build a resilient agricultural ecosystem, blending government leadership with private sector expertise and investment. According to him, the Niger State model could serve as a blueprint for other states and countries.
“This type of collaboration, backed by agricultural science and research, can dramatically raise productivity and reduce Africa’s reliance on imports,” he said, further calling for better import management policies that protect local farmers and strengthen domestic economies.
Also speaking, Executive Chairman of Niger Foods, Sammy Adigun, reaffirmed Niger State’s resolve to lead in rice production. He disclosed that with AfricaRice’s support, the state plans to scale annual paddy rice output from 1.5 million tonnes to 10 million tonnes, leveraging climate-smart technologies, mechanisation, and innovative farming systems that integrate both large-scale and smallholder farmers.
