Yobe Emerges Nigeria’s Most Improved State in Agriculture, Wins National Award

Yobe State has been named Nigeria’s “Most Improved State in Agriculture and Agro-Industrial Growth” for 2025, earning national recognition for the remarkable transformation of its agricultural sector under the administration of Governor Mai Mala Buni.

The prestigious honour was presented at the BusinessDay Newspaper State Competitiveness and Investment Readiness Awards (SCIRA) held at the NAF Conference Centre in Abuja. The award highlights Yobe’s growing profile as a leading agricultural and agro-industrial hub driven by strategic investments, mechanised farming and farmer-focused interventions.

Receiving the award on behalf of the state government, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon. Ali Mustapha, described the recognition as a reflection of the administration’s commitment to boosting food production, empowering farmers and strengthening economic growth through agriculture.

Also speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Information and Culture, Abdullahi Bego, expressed delight over the achievement, noting that it validates Governor Buni’s vision of transforming agriculture into a key driver of development and food security in Yobe State.

The award was presented by the Publisher of BusinessDay Newspaper, Mr. Frank Aigbogun, who commended the state’s efforts in implementing impactful agricultural policies and programmes.

According to the organisers, Yobe earned the recognition due to a series of bold and measurable interventions introduced by the Buni administration to modernise agriculture and improve the livelihoods of rural farmers.

Among the initiatives highlighted were the state’s large-scale agricultural empowerment programmes launched in 2024 and 2025, the procurement and deployment of more than 300 tractors, the distribution of over 20,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser, and the supply of hundreds of thousands of farming implements, agro-chemicals and other essential inputs across communities in the state.

These interventions have significantly expanded cultivation, increased productivity and enhanced food security despite the climatic and security challenges historically faced by the state.

Observers at the ceremony noted that the award reflects Yobe’s emergence as one of Nigeria’s fastest-growing agricultural economies, supported by deliberate investments in mechanisation and rural development.

The delegation that received the award on behalf of Governor Buni included the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Information and Culture, Hajiya Salamatu Yahaya Nangere; the Focal Person on Special Agricultural Intervention, Dr. Dilala; and the Executive Director of the Council for Arts and Culture, Hajiya Husna Ibrahim.

Stakeholders believe the recognition will strengthen investor confidence in Yobe’s agricultural sector and further accelerate the state’s drive toward food sufficiency, job creation and sustainable economic growth.