Experts and policymakers have called for a renewed focus on homegrown food systems as the cornerstone of Africa’s sustainable development and long-term transformation.

Speaking at the 2025 Changemakers Conference, organised by Sahel Consulting Agriculture & Nutrition in collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation, Heifer International, and GIZ, participants stressed the need to move beyond short-term agricultural interventions and embrace resilient, people-centred, and impact-driven food systems.

With the theme “Designing for Legacy: Building Resilient and Impact-Driven Food Systems,” the conference examined strategies to align Africa’s agricultural transformation with national development priorities.

The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu, noted that transforming food systems must remain a national priority.
“Building resilient and impact-driven food systems should be hardwired into any economic plan as a demonstration that our food system has evolved,” he said.

Also speaking, Nuhu Kilishi, Head of Nutrition at the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, who represented the minister, highlighted the need to strengthen agricultural value chains and tackle post-harvest losses.
“We must prioritise the inclusion of women, youth, and marginalised farmers in the growth process,” he stated.

Mezuo Nwuneli, Co-founder of Sahel Consulting, underscored the urgency of preparing Africa’s food systems for its fast-growing population.
“Over 500 million people will be added to Africa’s population in the next 10 years, and these individuals need to be fed,” he warned. “We must boost yields, improve efficiencies, and develop homegrown solutions — not copy-and-paste models from elsewhere.”

Temi Adegoroye, Managing Partner at Sahel Consulting, urged the design of agricultural programmes that prioritise sustainability and measurable results.
“True impact isn’t about how much we spend, but about programmes that continue to create change long after funding has stopped,” she said.

Another co-founder, Ndidi Nwuneli, emphasised leadership, accountability, and local sourcing as essential elements in strengthening Africa’s food value chain.
“Sourcing locally builds our farmers, strengthens the value chain, and delivers healthier food. The shorter the value chain, the better the result for our people,” she noted.

She added that building a lasting legacy requires intentional design and commitment to sustainability.
“Legacy is enduring impact  it’s what a leader leaves behind, and it applies to all of us,” she said.

The event gathered policymakers, business leaders, farmers, and development partners from across the continent to chart a new direction for Africa’s agricultural future.