The Nigerian Government has expressed willingness to strengthen its partnership with the World Food Programme (WFP) in delivering climate smart agricultural solutions for vulnerable communities.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima, stated this during a bilateral meeting with the Executive Director, WFP, Cindy Mccain, on the sideline of the United Nations Food Systems Summit Stocktake (UNFSS+4) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Shettima explained that the programme would enable farmers to learn self sufficiency, restore dignity to women and youths in vulnerable communities.
He stated that there was a relationship in the Sahelian zone between economy and ecology, saying ” climate change is impacting negatively on our part of the world. “
Shettima said President Bola Tinubu was actively working to address some of the underlying challenges facing the Nigerian nation, especially in terms of food production and sovereignty.
He said,” This is why even the Ministry of Agriculture was redesigned and renamed as the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
”The president had also gone ahead to create the Ministry of Livestock Development all geared towards addressing some of the fundamental issues. “
The vice-president thanked the WFP for its empathy and support for vulnerable communities, especially in Africa.
Shettima urged the organisation to enhance its partnership by encouraging the production of all its support mechanism in-house in Nigeria.
He added,” We have the facilities, we have the capabilities to deliver whatever you want and we can even service the whole of sub-saharan Africa from the Nigerian hub.
”I want to thank you for your support for vulnerable women and youths. We want to partner with you in delivering climate smart agricultural solution for our vulnerable communities so that they can lean from self sufficiency.
”And restore some dignity for women and youths. President Tinubu is actively working to address the problem of food production in Nigeria.
”Climate change is fantasy, is a reality and we are willing to partner with the World Food Programme toward up scaling your activities in Nigeria. You have the pedigree to really be of help to the country. “
Responding, Mccain, assured the readiness of the organisation to continue to support Nigeria to attain food sufficiency.
She said,” School feeding is my absolute favourite programme because of its impact on children within a country.
”Feeding one child and feeding many children really brings a generation of strong, intelligent, well feed, respected and also a community thrives on good result.
”I hope we can continue to be good partners and good friends along the way. And I will also say that our friendship has been a wonderful one.”
