Stakeholder Engagement in Irrigation Management: Key to Unlocking Food Security in Nigeria

Nigeria's quest for food security remains a significant challenge, with irrigation management playing a critical role. The country ranks 96 out of 113 on the Global Food Security Index. With a rapidly growing population projected to double from 200 million to 400 million by 2050, the challenge will intensify. Currently, about 90% of Nigeria's food production relies on rainfed agriculture. Effective stakeholder engagement is crucial for sustainable irrigation management, yet its current status in Nigeria is inadequate. Investing in irrigation infrastructure and improving water management practices will boost agricultural productivity. This paper examines the importance of stakeholder engagement in irrigation management and its impact on food security. The paper proposes a framework for stakeholder engagement, emphasizing the need to identify, analyse, and prioritize stakeholders' involvement in irrigation development. Strategies for Getting, Keeping, and Growing (GKG) stakeholders are highlighted. These strategies will enhance the stakeholder base for higher impact, sustain longterm engagement, deepen relationships to innovate for higher-scale impact, and ensure mutual benefits. Furthermore, the paper showcases a couple of examples of best practices in stakeholder management in Nigeria, highlighting successful initiatives and lessons learned. The two case studies are the World Bank-assisted Transforming Irrigation Management in Nigeria (TRIMING) project and the Sustainable Power and Irrigation in Nigeria (SPIN) Project. To strengthen stakeholder management and enhance food security in Nigeria, the paper recommends establishing stakeholder platforms, develop Stakeholder Engagement Plan, cascading lessons learnt to new Schemes, capacity building for stakeholders, and developing inclusive irrigation policies. Adopting a stakeholder-centric approach will enable Nigeria to harness the full potential of irrigation management to achieve food security. By prioritizing stakeholder engagement, Nigeria can make significant strides towards improving agricultural productivity, reducing poverty, and enhancing food security.