Vice President Kashim Shettima has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to boosting agricultural productivity through support for smallholder farmers, particularly youth and women, by expanding access to funding and modern agricultural inputs.
Speaking during a meeting with the President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Álvaro Lario, Shettima highlighted the Tinubu administration’s strategy to transform the sector from subsistence to commercial-scale production.
“We are focusing on increased productivity, resilience, and commercialisation, not handouts,” the Vice President stated.
He added that part of Nigeria’s plan includes scaling up existing IFAD-backed initiatives to reach more rural communities across the country.
The Vice President also held high-level bilateral meetings with the heads of other major international development organisations, including QU Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), and Cindy McCain, Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP).
In discussions with the FAO chief, Shettima emphasized the importance of reviving the Lake Chad region—once a hub of agricultural activity—now under threat from environmental degradation, climate change, conflict, and humanitarian crises.
“The revival of the Lake Chad region, which is being threatened by multidimensional challenges such as environmental degradation, climate change, humanitarian crises, and conflict, requires a multi-pronged approach, development initiatives, conflict resolution, regional cooperation, and large-scale infrastructure,” Shettima explained.
He urged FAO to play a central role in supporting Nigeria’s Green Revolution Project and efforts to promote all-year-round farming in the region.
FAO Director-General QU Dongyu commended the Tinubu administration’s political will, describing it as a “clear demonstration of committed leadership to transform Nigeria’s food systems.”
He pledged enhanced FAO partnership and technical support.
In a separate meeting with WFP’s Cindy McCain, Shettima expressed appreciation for the organisation’s ongoing humanitarian support in Nigeria.
However, he reiterated the administration’s focus on long-term, sustainable solutions.
McCain responded by assuring WFP’s continued collaboration with the Nigerian government, especially in areas such as school feeding, nutrition, and support for displaced communities.
