By Abbas Nazil
Nigeria is seeking to deepen its partnership with the World Food Programme (WFP) to implement climate-smart agricultural solutions aimed at enhancing food security and improving livelihoods in vulnerable communities.
This move was announced by Vice President Kashim Shettima during a bilateral meeting with WFP Executive Director, Cindy McCain, on the sidelines of the United Nations Food Systems Summit Stocktake (UNFSS+4) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Shettima emphasized that the collaboration would help farmers achieve self-sufficiency while restoring dignity to women and youths in marginalized areas.
He noted that in Nigeria’s Sahel region, there is a strong connection between economic instability and environmental degradation, with climate change posing a major threat to both.
He also acknowledged the ongoing efforts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to tackle food insecurity and economic vulnerabilities, particularly by redesigning the Ministry of Agriculture into the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
Furthermore, the President created a new Ministry of Livestock Development to comprehensively address food production challenges.
The Vice President praised the WFP for its continued humanitarian support to disadvantaged communities, particularly in Africa, and appealed to the organization to expand its footprint in Nigeria.
He encouraged WFP to consider localizing more of its operations in Nigeria, arguing that the country has the capacity to host a production hub capable of servicing the entire sub-Saharan Africa.
Shettima reiterated that Nigeria has the infrastructure and human capital necessary to meet the WFP’s requirements, and that an expanded partnership would significantly improve resilience among vulnerable populations.
He specifically thanked WFP for supporting women and youths, stating that empowering them through agriculture would not only alleviate poverty but also promote social stability.
In her response, WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain affirmed the organization’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s efforts to attain food sufficiency.
She described school feeding as her favorite WFP program, highlighting its impact on the health and intellectual development of children and its ability to strengthen communities over time.
McCain expressed optimism about the continued collaboration with Nigeria and described the bilateral relationship as warm and productive.
She stressed the importance of feeding programs in shaping future generations and pledged to continue building a strong partnership with Nigeria for long-term agricultural transformation and food security.
