Stakeholders Urge Nigeria-Taiwan Partnership to Drive Agricultural Innovation at Agriweek 2026.
Former Senate Leader and Pro-Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Victor Ndoma-Egba, has called for a stronger technology-driven partnership between Nigeria and Taiwan, saying both countries must move beyond conventional trade relations and embrace deeper cooperation in agricultural innovation, technology transfer, investment and skills development.
Ndoma-Egba made the call while speaking at Taiwan Smart Agriweek 2026, held at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Centre, Taiwan.
In a statement issued by his media team in Abuja, the former Senate leader said Taiwan’s remarkable progress in agricultural technology provides valuable lessons for Nigeria and other African countries seeking practical solutions to food insecurity, low agricultural productivity, unemployment and other challenges confronting the food system.
According to him, the future of agriculture will increasingly depend on the ability of countries to combine technology, research, innovation, entrepreneurship and investment to improve productivity and build resilient food systems.
“Taiwan offers an instructive example of what becomes possible when knowledge, technology, innovation and enterprise are deliberately deployed to transform agriculture.
“That experience holds considerable relevance for Nigeria and indeed for many African economies seeking to increase productivity, strengthen food security and create sustainable employment.”
Nigeria’s Agricultural Potential Requires Technology
Ndoma-Egba noted that Nigeria possesses enormous agricultural resources, a large youthful population and one of Africa’s biggest consumer markets, describing the combination as a major opportunity for agricultural transformation.
However, he stressed that unlocking the full potential of these resources requires greater investment in technology, infrastructure, research, skills, finance and efficient agricultural value chains.
“It is worthy to note that Nigeria possesses significant agricultural resources, a large and youthful population and one of Africa’s largest consumer markets,” he said.
“The opportunity before us is to connect these advantages more deliberately with technology, investment, skills, infrastructure, research and efficient value chains. This presents a compelling opportunity for deeper Taiwan-Nigeria cooperation.”
His position comes at a time when Nigeria’s agricultural sector is increasingly looking towards technology as a means of improving production efficiency, reducing losses and making farming more attractive to younger generations.
From precision agriculture and digital farm management to modern irrigation, agricultural machinery, aquaculture technologies, post-harvest systems and renewable energy solutions, technology is becoming an increasingly important component of modern food production.
From Buyer-Seller Relationship to Joint Innovation
Ndoma-Egba argued that Nigeria-Taiwan economic relations should evolve from conventional buying and selling of equipment and products to long-term partnerships capable of generating locally relevant technologies and businesses.
He identified several areas where the two countries could deepen cooperation, including smart agriculture, aquaculture, agricultural processing, renewable energy, digital farming, research, skills development, technology transfer, agricultural finance and joint ventures.
“Our relationship should move beyond conventional buyer-seller transactions towards enduring partnerships in technology transfer, joint ventures, smart agriculture, aquaculture, agricultural processing, renewable energy, digital farming, research, skills development and agricultural finance,” he said.
He emphasised that Nigeria should not limit its ambition to importing technologies developed elsewhere.
Instead, he advocated a model in which technologies are adapted to local conditions, improved through research and eventually co-created to address the specific realities of Nigerian and African agriculture.
“The ambition should not simply be to import technology; it should be to adapt, localise, improve and eventually co-create technologies suited to African realities, while creating sustainable value for Taiwanese partners,” he added.
Why Technology Transfer Matters
For Nigerian agriculture, such an approach could be particularly significant.
One of the major challenges facing the sector is the gap between available agricultural technologies and their accessibility, affordability and suitability for local farmers. Technologies developed for different climatic, infrastructural or economic environments may require considerable adaptation before they can be effectively deployed in Nigeria.
A stronger partnership based on local research and technology adaptation could therefore help bridge this gap.
It could also create opportunities for Nigerian engineers, researchers, agricultural entrepreneurs, universities and technology start-ups to participate in the development and commercialisation of agricultural solutions rather than remaining only consumers of imported technologies.
Universities Critical to Agricultural Innovation
The former Senate leader also highlighted the important role of universities in driving Nigeria’s agricultural and technological transformation.
He advocated stronger institutional collaboration between Nigerian and Taiwanese universities, saying partnerships in higher education could support joint research, innovation, skills acquisition, technology incubation and commercialisation.
According to him, universities should play a central role in producing the human capital required to transform agricultural ideas and technologies into commercially viable enterprises.
“Africa’s food-security challenges should therefore be seen not only as development concerns, but as significant opportunities for responsible investment and innovation,” he said.
“We must build value chains that reduce post-harvest losses, improve farmers’ incomes, create jobs, expand processing capacity and strengthen resilience across the food system.”
The emphasis on universities is particularly important as Nigeria seeks to attract more young people into agriculture and agribusiness.
Beyond traditional farming, the emerging agricultural economy requires professionals in agricultural engineering, data management, biotechnology, food processing, logistics, renewable energy, mechanisation, finance, marketing and digital technology.
Collaboration between Nigerian and Taiwanese institutions could potentially provide opportunities for knowledge exchange, technical training, research fellowships, innovation programmes and technology incubation.
Nigeria as an Investment and Innovation Partner
Ndoma-Egba, who was recently appointed Grand Patron of the Hybrid Culture, Technology and Innovation Promotion Initiative (HyCuTIPI), also used the occasion to encourage Taiwanese businesses and institutions to look beyond Nigeria’s large consumer market and explore opportunities for long-term investment and technological collaboration.
“I, therefore, invite Taiwanese companies, financial institutions, research organisations and technology providers to regard Nigeria not merely as a market, but as a long-term partner for investment, innovation and co-creation,” he said.
The proposition is particularly relevant to Nigeria’s agricultural value chains, where significant opportunities exist beyond primary production.
Investment in processing, cold-chain infrastructure, storage, logistics, agricultural machinery, renewable energy, aquaculture, livestock production and digital agricultural services could help address some of the structural constraints affecting the sector.
For investors, the opportunity lies in Nigeria’s large domestic market and the wider regional market, while for Nigerian stakeholders, partnerships could provide access to capital, technology, expertise and international markets.
Reducing Post-Harvest Losses and Strengthening Value Chains
Another major issue highlighted by Ndoma-Egba is the need to develop stronger agricultural value chains.
Increasing farm production alone does not automatically translate into food security or higher farmer incomes. Farmers also need access to storage, processing, transportation, markets, finance and reliable infrastructure.
Technology-driven partnerships could therefore play a role across the entire agricultural value chain—from production and harvesting to processing, packaging, transportation, marketing and distribution.
Reducing post-harvest losses would also allow more of what Nigerian farmers produce to reach consumers and processors in usable condition.
For smallholder farmers, stronger value chains could mean improved market access and potentially better returns on investment, while processors could gain more reliable supplies of agricultural raw materials.
Smart Agriculture and the Future of Nigerian Farming
The former Senate leader observed that agriculture is increasingly being influenced by smart technologies, digital solutions, sustainability and knowledge-based innovation.
The transformation of agriculture is no longer restricted to tractors and conventional farm machinery. Modern agricultural systems increasingly incorporate digital information, automation, sensors, data analysis, improved breeding technologies, efficient water management, renewable energy and other innovations designed to improve decision-making and resource utilisation.
For Nigeria, the challenge will be to ensure that these technologies are not restricted to large commercial farms but can also be adapted for small and medium-scale farmers.
Affordable and accessible technology will be critical if digital and smart agriculture is to contribute meaningfully to inclusive agricultural development.
Call for Stronger Nigeria-Taiwan Economic Ties
Ndoma-Egba commended the organisers of Taiwan Smart Agriweek for creating a platform where stakeholders could engage with agricultural technologies and explore opportunities for partnerships.
He also acknowledged the efforts of HyCuTIPI in promoting stronger technological, innovation and economic relationships between Nigeria and Taiwan.
He expressed optimism that collaboration involving HyCuTIPI, MY Exhibition Co., Limited and Taiwanese partners would continue to grow.
“May Taiwan-Nigeria economic and technological cooperation continue to flourish and may the partnership among HyCuTIPI, MY Exhibition Co., Limited and our Taiwanese partners grow from strength to strength,” he said.
Nigerian Delegation at Smart Agriweek 2026
The Nigerian delegation attending Smart Agriweek 2026 in Taiwan included HyCuTIPI President, Ambassador David Adejuwon, and its Legal Adviser, Mr Peter Abodunrin.
Other members of the delegation included Prof. Joshua Ogunwole, Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), and Prof. Jacob Babayemi, Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture and Technology, Okeho (FUNATO), Oyo State.
The participation of university leaders alongside technology, business and innovation stakeholders underscores the growing recognition that agricultural transformation requires cooperation across multiple sectors.
Beyond AgriWeek: Turning Conversations into Action
The significance of the discussions at Smart Agriweek 2026 will ultimately depend on what follows after the exhibition.
For Nigeria, the priority should be to convert international exhibitions and technology showcases into practical partnerships that benefit farmers, agribusinesses, researchers, young entrepreneurs and consumers.
This could include joint research initiatives, technology demonstration farms, agricultural innovation hubs, technical training programmes, local manufacturing and assembly of agricultural equipment, digital agriculture platforms, financing mechanisms and partnerships between Nigerian and Taiwanese companies.
Such initiatives could also help ensure that imported technologies are adapted to Nigeria’s diverse agricultural environments and economic realities.
For Taiwan, Nigeria offers a significant opportunity to participate in one of Africa’s largest agricultural and consumer markets. For Nigeria, stronger engagement with Taiwan could provide access to technologies, expertise and investment capable of supporting the transition from predominantly conventional farming systems towards more productive, efficient and technology-enabled agriculture.
A Partnership with Long-Term Potential
The message from Smart Agriweek 2026 is therefore broader than technology alone.
It is about building a partnership in which technology, capital, knowledge, research and entrepreneurship work together to address real agricultural challenges.
As Nigeria continues to confront food-security concerns, unemployment, post-harvest losses, limited processing capacity and the need to make agriculture more attractive to young people, strategic international partnerships could become an important part of the country’s agricultural development agenda.
Ndoma-Egba’s call for a shift from a buyer-seller relationship towards technology transfer, localisation, joint innovation and co-creation presents a model that could potentially deliver deeper and more sustainable value for both Nigeria and Taiwan.
For Nigerian agriculture, the ultimate measure of such cooperation will not simply be the number of technologies displayed at international exhibitions, but whether those technologies can reach the farm gate, improve productivity, reduce losses, create jobs, increase farmers’ incomes and strengthen the country’s food system.
Nigerian Farming Magazine will continue to track developments from AgriWeek 2026 and examine the technologies, investment opportunities and partnerships emerging from the event that could shape the future of agriculture in Nigeria and across Africa.
