Addis ababa: The Nigerian Government has announced its commitment to enhancing its collaboration with the World Food Programme (WFP) to implement climate-smart agricultural solutions aimed at assisting vulnerable communities. Vice-President Kashim Shettima made this announcement during a bilateral meeting with WFP Executive Director Cindy Mccain, held on the sidelines of the United Nations Food Systems Summit Stocktake (UNFSS+4) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Vice-President Shettima emphasized that the initiative aims to teach farmers self-sufficiency while restoring dignity to women and youths in vulnerable areas. He noted the linkage between economy and ecology in the Sahelian zone, highlighting that climate change adversely affects the region. He further stated that President Bola Tinubu is actively addressing key challenges, particularly in food production and sovereignty, illustrated by the redesignation of the Ministry of Agriculture to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and the creation of the Ministry of Livestock Development.
Shettima expressed gratitude to the WFP for its support to vulnerable communities, especially in Africa, and urged the organization to bolster its partnership by producing its support mechanisms locally in Nigeria. He remarked on Nigeria’s capability to serve the entire sub-Saharan Africa region, emphasizing the importance of empowering vulnerable communities through climate-smart agricultural solutions.
In response, WFP Executive Director Cindy Mccain assured Nigeria of the organization’s ongoing support to achieve food sufficiency. She expressed a particular fondness for the school feeding program, citing its positive impact on children and community development, and expressed optimism for the continued partnership between WFP and Nigeria.
