Hussein Gadain assumes office as FAO representative in Nigeria, ECOWAS

QU Dongyu, director general, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations has appointed Hussein Gadain as his new representative in Nigeria and to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Gadain arrived in Nigeria on the July 8, 2025, to assume his new role, bringing over three decades of experience in natural resource management, food security, and agricultural development in Africa and the Middle East, a statement by the FAO Nigeria office revealed.

“Before his appointment in Nigeria, he served as FAO Representative in Yemen, where he led one of FAO’s biggest programmes in emergency, providing critical interventions in food systems recovery and resilience building.”

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In his new role, Gadain will oversee FAO’s strategic engagement with the Government of Nigeria, development partners, and key stakeholders. He will lead the implementation of the FAO Country Programming Framework (CPF) 2023–2027, which focuses on sustainable agriculture, climate resilience, nutrition, and inclusive rural development.

Gadain, in the statement, said, “Nigeria is a country of immense potential and complexity. I am honoured to take on this role to serve the people and government of Nigeria and look forward to working closely with all partners at national, subnational levels and community levels to support resilient food systems and sustainable livelihoods.”

His appointment comes at a pivotal time as FAO continues to support Nigeria in addressing food insecurity, climate change challenges, and the recovery of conflict-affected communities, the statement added

Ruth Tene Natsa

Ruth Tene, Assistant Editor, Agric/Solid Minerals/INEC Ruth Tene is an award-winning journalist with over 15 years experience in developmental reporting across several newsrooms, as a reporter, editor and other managerial roles. She holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism from the University of Maiduguri among several other certifications She has attended several trainings and certifications both locally and internationally and has been recognized for her impactful work in humanitarian reporting, receiving the Gold Award for Humanitarian Services from the Amazing Grace Foundation. She is also a recipient of the Home Alliance Fellowship, reflecting her commitment to fostering a more humane, safer and more sustainable planet. An active member of professional journalism bodies, Ruth is affiliated with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), and the Agricultural Correspondents Association of Nigeria (ACAN), where she continues to advocate for excellence, ethical reporting, and development-focused journalism.