Shettima Affirms Commitment to Food Security through IITA Collaboration

In a significant step towards bolstering Nigeria’s food security, Vice President Kashim Shettima has extended the Federal Government’s assurance of partnership to the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA).

The pledge came during a meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, where a delegation from IITA, led by Director-General and Regional Director for Africa, Simeon Ehui, engaged with Vice President Shettima.

Shettima conveyed the administration’s commitment to fostering agricultural practices that enhance food security and ensure an ample food supply for the nation. He emphasized the necessity for a transformative change in the country’s agricultural landscape, underscoring the need to increase agricultural output to match the substantial population and overcome environmental challenges.

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Addressing the IITA delegation, Vice President Shettima stated, “There has to be a paradigm shift. Our agricultural output is low as compared to our size of population and even the unfriendly environmental factors. So, this is a time of change and I want to give you the guarantee that my boss is with you and he will solidly support you to execute your mandate. My boss, President Bola Tinubu, is a man of courage and conviction and he has determined to reposition the nation more than ever before.”

Acknowledging the achievements of IITA in the agriculture sector across West Africa, Shettima commended the institution for its contributions in cultivating crops such as cassava, yam, and soya beans. He highlighted IITA’s significant presence in Nigeria, particularly in Ibadan and West Africa, emphasizing the potential for the institution to make a meaningful impact on the country’s agriculture.

Vice President Shettima addressed IITA’s core focus on increasing agricultural yield through various means, including seed quality, sound agricultural practices, fertilizers, and improved market accessibility. He underscored the potential of environmentally friendly irrigation mechanisms to significantly enhance farm outputs and achieve agricultural objectives.

Highlighting his agricultural economics background and his professional experience in banking, Shettima expressed the government’s readiness to collaborate with IITA. He affirmed, “I want to give you my candid assurance that by my training, by my inclination as an agricultural economist, and as a banker by profession, we can definitely engage with you.”

In response, Simeon Ehui, the Director-General of IITA, expressed gratitude for the Federal Government’s longstanding support and acknowledged IITA’s expansion across numerous states in Nigeria. He emphasized the organization’s willingness to partner with the Tinubu administration, citing the immense potential for collaborative efforts to drive positive change in Nigeria’s agricultural sector.

As the partnership between the Federal Government and IITA gains momentum, the nation’s prospects for improved food security and agricultural productivity continue to evolve. The commitment to innovative agricultural practices and collaborative approaches heralds a promising future for Nigeria’s agricultural landscape.