Vice President Kashim Shettima has emphasised the importance of addressing hunger, highlighting it as a fundamental issue that transcends boundaries.
He made this declaration in Abuja on Tuesday at the Opening Ceremony of the National and Regional Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum, organised by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
The Hand-in-Hand initiative, launched in 2019 by the FAO, is designed to ensure sustainable development while creating investments around agriculture, food systems, and the environment.
Addressing the gathering as Special Guest of Honour, Vice President Shettima stressed the importance of food security.
“Nothing unifies humanity as much as hunger. It is the great equaliser that reveals our vulnerabilities and the shared fragility of our existence. Food is not merely a matter of survival, it is a matter of global security,” he said.
The Vice President noted that farmers, especially young people, must be encouraged to embrace agriculture, as the future belongs to them.
Speaking on agricultural investments, he explained that they rest on the pillars of job creation and food security, adding that the Tinubu administration is actively pursuing these goals.
“We must facilitate access to land and resources for serious investors. We must drive mechanisation to reduce drudgery and enhance productivity. We must strengthen the agricultural credit system to ensure capital flows to where it is needed most.
“Strategic investment in irrigation alone could triple yields, free us from seasonal dependency, and fortify our resilience against climate shocks,” he said.
This blueprint seeks to lift 35 million Nigerians out of poverty, create 21 million full-time jobs in rural and agrarian communities, and secure national food and nutrition sufficiency through deliberate and strategic investments in agriculture.
Irrigation as a Game-Changer
Shettima emphasised that irrigation remains a critical game-changer, pointing out that Nigeria has river basins and aquifers capable of irrigating more than three million hectares of land but currently utilises less than ten per cent.
The Vice President further assured investors that Nigeria’s policies are being re-engineered to attract capital through regulatory reforms, public-private partnerships, and agri-tech innovations.
“Nigeria is open for business, and we are ready to partner with you. Let us work hand-in-hand to build a Nigeria and a region where no one goes to bed hungry, where rural communities are hubs of wealth creation, and where agriculture is the true foundation of our prosperity,” he said.
Commendations from Partners
The EU Ambassador to Nigeria, Gautier Mignot, commended Nigeria’s commitment to agriculture, describing it as the backbone of the country’s economy.
He reaffirmed the EU’s partnership with Nigeria in its agricultural journey.
Mignot declared that the EU remains Nigeria’s long-term partner and is committed to investing in value chain development, starting with a recent investment of over 80 million euros to unlock opportunities in key value chains across seven states.
Similarly, the Country Representative of FAO, Dr Hussein Gadain, praised Nigeria for championing the cause of food security in Africa.
He noted that the Hand-in-Hand initiative in the country has made remarkable strides in identifying and matching investment opportunities in agriculture.
Gadain explained that the Hand-in-Hand initiative is FAO’s “evidence-based, country-led, and country-owned flagship programme, designed to accelerate agricultural transformation and sustainable rural development.”