A global agribusiness exhibition platform is expanding into Nigeria as West Africa intensifies efforts to reduce its more than $50 billion annual food import bill and strengthen regional food security.
Growtech West Africa, an international agriculture and food production exhibition, is scheduled to debut in Lagos from January 26 to 28, 2027, at the Landmark Centre, positioning Nigeria at the centre of growing global interest in the region’s agricultural transformation agenda.
The launch comes as governments and private investors across West Africa ramp up investments aimed at boosting local food production, modernising farming systems, and improving agricultural productivity amid rising population growth, climate pressures, and increasing food demand.
According to the organisers, the event is expected to attract over 5,000 industry professionals, more than 100 exhibitors, international country pavilions, and over 50 speakers spanning agriculture, livestock, aquaculture, food processing, irrigation, agri-tech, and supply chain sectors.
The expansion reflects increasing international attention on West Africa’s agriculture market, which the OECD estimates could exceed $480 billion by 2030, making it one of the fastest-growing food economies globally.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, remains central to that growth narrative due to its vast arable land, large agricultural workforce, and rising investments in food production and processing infrastructure.
Ahmed Khalil, Middle East director at Growtech, said the region was approaching a critical phase in its agricultural development as countries seek to reduce dependence on imported food and build more resilient food systems.
“West Africa stands at a defining moment for its agriculture and food sector,” Khalil said in a statement. “The region has the land, population, resources, and ambition to significantly strengthen food security and local production capabilities over the coming decade.”
He said the Lagos event would serve as a platform to connect global agricultural innovation, investment, and technology providers with local market needs across West Africa.
The launch also underscores how Nigeria is increasingly emerging as a strategic destination for agribusiness investments as policymakers prioritise agriculture as a tool for economic diversification, job creation, and inflation control.
Food inflation remains one of Nigeria’s biggest economic challenges despite recent government interventions aimed at improving domestic food supply and reducing import dependence.
Organisers said discussions at the event’s Food Security and Sustainability Conference would focus on improving local production capacity, climate resilience, agricultural financing, sustainable water use, and long-term food system resilience.
Engin Er, exhibition director of Growtech Events, described West Africa as a “natural and highly strategic next step” in the platform’s international expansion after editions in Türkiye, Dubai, and Italy.
“The market potential is enormous, and there is a strong appetite for innovation, collaboration, and practical solutions that can help improve productivity and sustainability across the agricultural value chain,” Er said.
The exhibition will cover a broad range of agricultural segments, including greenhouse technologies, irrigation systems, precision farming, seeds and seedlings, livestock and poultry solutions, aquaculture, fisheries, and food processing technologies.
Analysts say such platforms could help accelerate knowledge transfer and investment flows into West Africa’s agricultural sector at a time when countries are under pressure to improve food resilience and reduce exposure to global supply shocks.