Sterling Bank has rallied investors, policymakers, development partners and agribusiness leaders to unlock Africa’s agricultural potential and position the continent as a global food powerhouse as the Agriculture Summit Africa (ASA) returns for its ninth edition.
The summit, scheduled for September 15 and 16, 2026, in Abuja, will be held under the theme, “Building the Next Superpower: Africa’s Food Power Play.” The event was unveiled at a press conference in Lagos, where Sterling Bank’s leadership joined public sector representatives, development partners and agribusiness pioneers to set the agenda for Africa’s food and agricultural future.
The summit comes against the backdrop of a longstanding paradox in African agriculture: the continent has abundant arable land, labour and a growing consumer market, yet remains heavily dependent on food imports. Rapid population growth and climate change are increasing pressure on African food systems, while inadequate capital, infrastructure, technology and market access continue to limit the ability of farmers and agribusinesses to scale production and compete globally.
For farmers, this means that the continent’s agricultural potential often fails to translate into higher incomes, while significant volumes of produce are lost or sold below their full market value because of inadequate storage, processing and logistics. ASA 2026 seeks to close this gap by bringing together stakeholders across the agricultural value chain to drive investment, partnerships and practical solutions that can transform Africa’s food systems.
In his remarks, Dele Faseemo, Group Executive, Corporate and Investment Banking at Sterling Bank, said agriculture remains central to the bank’s HEART strategy, which covers Health, Education, Agriculture, Renewable Energy and Transportation. He said Sterling Bank’s financing across the sectors grew by 39 percent in 2025 to N331.7 billion, with agriculture recording one of the strongest increases.