Stakeholder Engagement in Large-Scale Agricultural Investment Projects in Nasarawa State, North Central Nigeria

Large-scale agricultural investment projects in North Central Nigeria increasingly attract both private and public capital, yet inadequate stakeholder engagement undermines community acceptance and long-term sustainability. This study evaluates stakeholder engagement practices in large-scale agricultural investment projects in Nasarawa State. A mixed-methods design will recruit 130 project managers, agricultural investment coordinators, community leaders, and government liaison officers from four large agribusiness projects in Lafia and Keffi. The Stakeholder Engagement Assessment Matrix from ISO 21500 will assess engagement quality. Qualitative data from 15 key informant interviews will provide contextual insights into engagement successes and failures. Quantitative analysis will correlate engagement quality with project community acceptance indices. Nasarawa State's strategic position in Nigeria's agricultural middle belt and its growing profile as an agribusiness destination make this study particularly timely. Evidence from the state indicates recurring community conflicts over land acquisition and benefit-sharing that effective engagement could mitigate. Findings will inform the Nasarawa State Investment Promotion Agency and agricultural project developers. Keywords: stakeholder engagement, agricultural investment, Nasarawa State, community acceptance, agribusiness