Ikpeazu, Spain Move to Deepen Agricultural Partnership, Technology Transfer By Raymond Enoch
Nigeria and Spain are set to deepen cooperation in agriculture, with both countries exploring stronger partnerships in food production, livestock development, irrigation, improved seedlings and technology transfer as part of efforts to strengthen food security and expand economic opportunities.
The renewed commitment emerged when Nigeria’s Ambassador to Spain, His Excellency Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, paid a courtesy visit to Spain’s Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas Puchades, on Thursday, September 17, 2026, at the Palacio de Fomento in Madrid.
The meeting provided a high-level platform for both sides to examine practical areas of collaboration capable of translating the longstanding cordial relations between Nigeria and Spain into greater agricultural investment and development.
Minister Planas warmly received Ambassador Ikpeazu and congratulated him on his appointment as Nigeria’s principal envoy to Spain, as well as the successful presentation of his Letters of Credence to His Majesty King Felipe VI.
The Spanish minister said the Ambassador’s assumption of duty offered a fresh opportunity to further strengthen bilateral relations, particularly in the areas of agro-food production, animal health and irrigation.
At the centre of the discussions was Spain’s experience in deploying agricultural technology to improve productivity and reduce losses across the food value chain.
Minister Planas highlighted Spain’s advances in crop disease prevention and the development of high-yielding improved seedlings, which he said had contributed significantly to large-scale agro-food and livestock production.
He also pointed to Nigeria’s enormous agricultural potential, noting that more than 40 per cent of the country’s total land area is arable and capable of supporting expanded food production and value-chain development.
According to the Minister, Spain’s ability to produce more food than it imports has been supported by improved seedlings, food preservation policies and strategies aimed at strengthening domestic consumption.
He further disclosed that innovative technologies contributed to a 20 per cent reduction in food losses in Spain in 2025, with additional preventive measures being introduced.
Responding, Ambassador Ikpeazu expressed appreciation for the warm reception and the opportunity to engage the Spanish minister on issues of strategic importance to both countries.
He stressed that agricultural expansion remains a priority of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, particularly against the backdrop of Nigeria’s large and youthful population and the enormous opportunities embedded in the agricultural value chain.
The Ambassador said unlocking those opportunities could simultaneously advance food security, create employment and contribute to addressing the challenge of irregular migration across Africa by opening up sustainable economic opportunities for young people.
Ikpeazu commended Spain’s innovations in improved seedling production, livestock development and food preservation, while expressing Nigeria’s readiness to explore deeper cooperation in these areas.
He particularly identified post-harvest losses, inadequate preservation infrastructure and weaknesses in transportation networks as areas where Spanish expertise and technology could provide practical support.
The Ambassador also drew attention to the impact of Spanish investment in Nigeria, citing GB Foods’ operations in Kebbi and Ogun States as an example of how technology and investment can transform agricultural productivity.
He noted that the introduction of improved seedlings through the investment had raised tomato yields from about 10 tonnes to more than 60 tonnes per hectare, underscoring the potential of technology-driven agriculture to transform Nigeria’s food production landscape.
Beyond crop production, Ambassador Ikpeazu expressed Nigeria’s strong interest in expanding animal production for both domestic consumption and export, signalling another potential area for Spanish investment, technical cooperation and knowledge exchange.
The discussions ended with a shared commitment to move beyond broad diplomatic relations towards practical economic cooperation capable of producing measurable outcomes for both countries.
Both sides agreed that closer collaboration, technology transfer and investment promotion could generate substantial mutual benefits, while committing to facilitate and consider proposals from relevant government agencies and private-sector stakeholders.
The Madrid engagement therefore places agriculture among the emerging pillars of Nigeria-Spain economic diplomacy, with improved productivity, food preservation, livestock development and investment increasingly becoming areas for structured bilateral cooperation.
