Sterling Bank has restated its commitment to advancing food security and sustainable agriculture across Africa as the world commemorates World Food Day 2025.

Marking the global event themed “Hand in Hand for Better Food and a Better Future,” the Nigerian lender called for deeper collaboration among governments, financial institutions, farmers, and technology providers to tackle food insecurity and boost agricultural resilience.

The Group Head of Agriculture at Sterling Bank, Olushola Obikanye, said the continent’s agricultural future depends on collective effort rather than isolated interventions. He warned that Africa’s overreliance on food imports despite its vast arable land was a paradox that required urgent correction through investment, innovation, and inclusion.

Over the last decade, the bank has channelled more than ₦500 billion in agricultural loans and $300 million in financing to value chain actors across Nigeria. It has also launched SWAY AgFin, a digital financing platform that has enabled over 25,000 youth and women farmers to access credit and market opportunities.

Through partnerships with development agencies such as GIZ and USAID, Sterling Bank has supported more than 10,000 agribusinesses and over 100,000 smallholder farmers in crops including rice, maize, and soybean.

Obikanye said the bank’s agricultural focus rests on three pillars: empowerment, innovation, and sustainability. “Our goal is to build ecosystems where farmers can access credit, knowledge, and markets, ensuring not only better yields but also better livelihoods,” he said.

Sterling Bank will continue its advocacy at Agriculture Summit Africa (ASA) 2025 in November, themed “Survival of the Greenest: Reclaiming Africa’s Food Destiny.” The annual summit, organised by the bank, is expected to bring together policymakers, financiers, and farmers to co-create solutions for food resilience.

The bank’s long-term vision is anchored on its H.E.A.R.T. strategy—Health, Education, Agriculture, Renewable Energy, and Transportation—designed to drive inclusive and sustainable development across the continent.