Lagos: The Federal Government has partnered with United Kingdom’s Zander Corporation Ltd., to transform agricultural practices and restore degraded lands in the country’s most vulnerable ecological zones. Vice-President Kashim Shettima stated this on Thursday during a meeting with the management of the bio-technology company, held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the management of the company was led by Lord Raymond Benedict Asquith, the Third Earl of Oxford, and Asquith OBE, a member of the UK House of Lords. The Zander Corporation donated £250,000 worth of afforestation technology products to Nigeria.
Shettima expressed the commitment of the Federal government to afforestation as a key strategy in combating desertification, promoting sustainable land use, and ensuring long-term agricultural productivity. He emphasized the intersection between innovative technology and efforts at combating desertification and agricultural transformation in Nigeria. As a nation committed to afforestation and sustainable land use, Shettima recognized the value of partnerships that introduce cutting-edge technologies like those from Zander Corporation.
Shettima noted the need to maximize the potential of the five-hectare pilot project, suggesting diversification into vegetable production and tree crops such as cashew, which has a high global demand. He assured the federal government’s support and highlighted Sokoto State’s commitment, expressing confidence that Borno and Katsina governments would also embrace this initiative.
Shettima acknowledged Lord Oxford’s commitment to training Nigerian agronomists in best practices for implementing the technology. He pointed out the relationship between ecology and economy in the northern part of the country, describing Zander Corporation’s technology as a potential saving grace.
Earlier, Lord Oxford reaffirmed the corporation’s dedication to Nigeria’s agricultural transformation, adding that the company has been in the country for over 12 years. He noted the deployment of their products in several northern states to showcase their capabilities in agricultural and environmental projects. The corporation has recorded successes in desert states such as Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Libya, and Southern Spain.
Alhaji Saleh Abubakar, Director-General of the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW), confirmed the agency’s commitment to implementing Zander Corporation’s technology. A committee has been established to oversee the implementation of these products, which have proven highly effective in building resilience during the pilot program. The project is being piloted in Katsina, Borno, and Sokoto States, with five hectares of land already prepared for deployment.
Mr. Rupert Bevan, Director of Zander Corporation Ltd., expressed his satisfaction with the Federal Government’s commitment to the project. He reiterated the corporation’s commitment to supporting Nigeria in combating desertification and land degradation. Bevan emphasized the importance of the project in creating employment and ensuring self-sufficiency through the planting of important trees and various crops.