ABEOKUTA — The Ogun State Government has received recognition from the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) for its efforts to expand access to appropriate financing for farmers and agribusinesses across the state.
The recognition was presented to the Ogun State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security under the GIZ Global Project, Promotion of Agricultural Finance for Agri-based Enterprises in Rural Areas (GP AgFin Nigeria).
The project, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), focused on strengthening agricultural finance and improving access to financial services tailored to the needs of farmers and agricultural enterprises.
Alongside the award, the ministry received a Certificate of Appreciation acknowledging its sustained collaboration and support for the project.
In the certificate signed by the Head of GP AgFin Nigeria, Mrs Ruskiyat Badmus, GIZ commended the ministry for its contribution to advancing access to suitable agricultural financial services in Ogun State.
The partnership between the ministry and GP AgFin Nigeria, which operated from January 2018 to October 2026, sought to strengthen financial inclusion within the agricultural sector and improve farmers’ and agribusinesses’ ability to secure financing for their operations.
Access to affordable and suitable financing remains a major challenge for many farmers and agri-based businesses, limiting their capacity to expand production, processing, storage and other activities along the agricultural value chain.
The collaboration therefore supported efforts to create a more favourable financial environment for agricultural entrepreneurs, enabling them to access resources needed to grow their businesses and contribute to employment generation and food security.
The recognition also highlights Ogun State’s broader strategy of using agriculture as a driver of economic development, with emphasis on strengthening not only food production but also the financial and institutional structures needed to make the sector more productive and sustainable.
Through partnerships with development organisations and other stakeholders, the state has continued to promote opportunities for farmers and agribusinesses to expand their operations and play a greater role in the state’s economic development.
The GIZ recognition underscores the importance of sustained collaboration between government and development partners in strengthening agricultural financing and building a more resilient agricultural economy in Ogun State.