The Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) Nigeria convened its Annual Review and Planning Meeting at the Abuja office from February 2 to 3, bringing together all staff and management to reflect on the organization’s performance in 2025 and align strategic priorities for the year ahead.

Presiding over the two-day session, the Country Director, Dr. Godwin Atser, emphasized the importance of creating a dedicated space for internal reflection and planning. “It has become imperative to separate the review and planning meeting from the annual stakeholders’ workshop,” Dr. Atser said. “This allows staff and management to critically review our work, learn from our experiences, and jointly plan more effectively for the year ahead.”

Strengthening Systems and Institutional Learning

The first day of the meeting focused on cross-cutting institutional and thematic areas that underpin SAA’s work. Presentations covered key topics including adult learning principles, regenerative agriculture, nutrition-sensitive agriculture, and market-oriented agriculture, highlighting practical pathways for improving productivity, sustainability, and farmer livelihoods. Sessions on capacity building, communications, monitoring and evaluation, and administration enabled teams to assess organizational performance, identify operational gaps, and recommend improvements. Reflecting on these discussions, Dr. Atser noted that “strong systems, effective learning, and clear communication are critical to delivering impact at scale.”

Reviewing Programme Performance and Setting Priorities

The second day shifted attention to program and project-level reviews, examining achievements recorded in 2025 and identifying priorities for 2026 across SAA-supported initiatives in Nigeria.  Updates were presented on projects implemented in Kano, Nasarawa, Kaduna, Niger, Jigawa, Benue, Oyo states, as well as the Republic of Benin Republic, Sierra Leone and Ghana. Discussions also addressed mechanization, postharvest management and handling, and financial performance ensuring alignment between technical implementation and sound resource management. According to Dr Gambo Abdulhamid, the Deputy Country Director, “Aligning our project plans with sound risk management and financial discipline is essential for sustaining results and meeting our commitments to partners and farmers.”

A Unified Workplan for 2026

One of the key outcomes of the meeting was the development of a consolidated Country Office workplan for 2026, providing a unified framework to guide implementation across all pillars. The meeting also introduced the new Project Coordinator for Japan's Policy and Human Resource Development Grant (PHRDG) in Benin, reinforcing leadership continuity and strengthening program oversight.

Participants further agreed on several resolutions aimed at improving coordination, efficiency, and impact across the organization. These included strengthening joint planning among pillars, mainstreaming adult learning approaches in extension and farmer training, deepening value chain and market linkages, and leveraging private sector partnerships to scale innovations. Emphasis was also placed on improving data management, documentation, internal communication, staff capacity development, and welfare. As Dr. Atser concluded, “our collective commitment to collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement will define how effectively we deliver on our mandate in 2026.”

Commitment to Impact

The annual review and planning meeting reaffirmed SAA Nigeria’s commitment to evidence-based planning, teamwork, and continuous learning as the organization works to advance sustainable agricultural development and improved livelihoods for smallholder farmers across Nigeria.

SAA Nigeria staff gathering for the Annual Review and Planning Meeting at the Abuja office.