A national farmers’ association has expressed readiness to collaborate with the Federal Government to support the implementation of the Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme aimed at boosting grassroots economic activities across Nigeria.
The Crop, Aquaculture, Livestock Farmers and Value Chain Economic Actors Association of Nigeria (CALFAN) made the proposal during a meeting with the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu, in Abuja.
The Renewed Hope Ward Development Programme, introduced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu last year, seeks to drive development at the ward level through stronger collaboration among federal, state and local governments, alongside private sector and community stakeholders.
Speaking at the meeting, Bagudu emphasised the importance of dialogue and partnership between government institutions and organised groups in advancing national development priorities.
He explained that the initiative is designed to improve coordination among the three tiers of government, noting that overlapping responsibilities and poor collaboration have often led to inefficiencies in development planning.
According to the minister, Nigeria’s 8,809 wards each possess unique economic potential that can be unlocked through targeted interventions tailored to local needs and opportunities.
Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr Deborah Odoh, described agriculture as a critical driver of economic transformation, noting that partnerships with organised farmer groups could enhance the programme’s impact on food security, employment and rural development.
CALFAN’s National President, Aliyu Abdulraheem, said the association is prepared to serve as a field-level implementation partner for the programme. He noted that the group has a nationwide grassroots network and digital platform capable of supporting beneficiary identification, data collection and monitoring of development activities across communities.
