The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, will headline the panel session at the 2026 edition of the Vanguard Economic Discourse scheduled for Wednesday, April 22, in Lagos.

The event, set to begin at 9 a.m. at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, will focus on the theme, “Food Security and Socio-economic Stability: Options for Nigeria’s Agriculture Sector Rebound.”

Organisers said Maiha, as lead panelist, is expected to engage key stakeholders from both the public and private sectors on developments within Nigeria’s livestock industry and broader agricultural value chain.

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, will chair the session, while Hussein Gadain, the Food and Agriculture Organization’s representative in Nigeria and to ECOWAS, is billed to deliver the keynote address.

Other panelists include Dede Ekoue of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD); Moji Davids of Xtralarge Farms & Resorts; Mohammed Magaji of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN); and Kabir Ibrahim of the Nigeria Agribusiness Group (NABG).

Financial institutions, particularly commercial banks with agricultural desks, are also expected to participate in discussions and networking sessions.

The annual discourse has evolved into a prominent platform for dialogue between policymakers and industry leaders, focusing on strategies to strengthen Nigeria’s economy, especially within the agriculture sector.

Maiha, a graduate of Ahmadu Bello University, began his career in academia before moving into the oil and gas sector with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. During his tenure, he rose to senior management positions, including Managing Director of the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company.

After leaving public service, he ventured into agribusiness, leading Zaidi Farms Limited, where he focused on livestock production using modern and climate-smart techniques. He later served on the steering committee of the World Bank-backed Agro-Processing, Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement Support (APPEALS) project in Kaduna State.

The 2026 discourse is expected to bring together a wide range of stakeholders to explore solutions aimed at boosting agricultural productivity and ensuring food security in Nigeria.