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IITA, Other Research Institutions Pivotal To FG’s Agric Revolution – VP Shettima

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IITA, Other Research Institutions Pivotal To FG’s Agric Revolution – VP Shettima

** Says it’s time to walk the talk on food security

By: Our Reporter

Vice President Kashim Shettima has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s avowed commitment to agricultural revolution and food production can be facilitated by partner research and production institutions like the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) as well as volunteer partners.

According to him, the Tinubu administration has taken the bull by the horns and is walking the talk by fixing Nigeria’s food security challenges.

Speaking on Tuesday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, when he embarked on an assessment tour of the IITA, VP Shetttima expressed total confidence in the capacity, expertise and ability of the institution to harness the nation’s agriculture potential.

He said looking inwards has become mandatory, especially with withdrawals of some specialised grants meant for alleviating the plight of Nigerians through the health and agricultural sectors.

“The IITA is an institution that has been at the forefront of agricultural research, food security and economic development across Africa for the past five decades.

“We have some of the best crop scientists working here. The institution has been in existence for over 57 years but the Nigerian government has not fully utilised its potential. But it’s better late than never.

“That is why the President insisted that my humble self, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Agribusinesses and Productivity Enhancement (Office of the Vice President), Dr Kingsley Uzoma, should come here and give him a live account of what we saw,” the VP said.

The Vice President explained why the government is poised to partner with IITA, noting that the institution’s commitment to practical research, impact, local yearnings and robust technological innovations makes it an indispensable ally in Nigeria’s agro-food sustenance policies.

Earlier, the Director-General of IITA, Dr Simeon Ehui, said the institute is spearheading multiple initiatives that have improved access to climate-resilient seeds and agricultural technologies.

“Our innovative systems between IITA-CGIAR and partners, particularly in improving cassava, maize and cowpea varieties have increased farmers’ access to high-yield climate-resilient seeds. The same applies to rice,” he said.

Dr. Ehui explained that IITA’s efforts are creating measurable impacts on both small-scale and commercial farming operations nationwide, noting that in the Northeast, the USAID-funded Nigeria Integrated Agriculture Activity (NIAA) has established community-based enterprises that focus on youth and women’s participation in agriculture.

“Our project in the North East is developing community-based enterprises, creating jobs and increasing yields of staple crops and ensuring nutritionally dense staple food for Nigerians,” Dr. Ehui stated.

He pointed out that a major advancement in the institute’s work is the newly established Regional Hub for Fertilizer and Soil Health at IITA headquarters.

“This initiative will serve as a regular catalyst for promoting sustainable fertilizer use, improving soil health and directly supporting Nigeria’s efforts to increase agricultural productivity,” Dr. Ehui said.

He added that the institute has also played a crucial role in crisis response, partnering with the Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit (PFSCU) to address the recent ginger blight epidemic.

The Vice President, accompanied by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari; the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Agribusinesses and Productivity Enhancement (Office of the Vice President), Dr Kingsley Uzoma, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (Southwest), Moremi Ojudu, and other senior government officials were taken round the facilities at the institution, including the Seed Multiplication Centre for yam/cassava and the institution’s Business Incubation Platform (BIP).

IITA, Other Research Institutions Pivotal To FG’s Agric Revolution – VP Shettima

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At Launch Of Ethiopia’s GLI, VP Shettima Urges Practical Action Against Climate Change

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At Launch Of Ethiopia’s GLI, VP Shettima Urges Practical Action Against Climate Change

** Says Nigeria, Ethiopia have the largest stake in Africa’s future by keeping continent green

By: Our Reporter

Vice President Kashim Shettima has called on nations of the world to be decisive about combating climate change, saying it is a danger that must be arrested with practical actions.

According to him, while the global threat is not one that can be resolved in a conference room, it requires each country to respond to the peculiarities of the ecological burdens confronting them.

The Nigerian Vice President, who stated this on Friday during the official launch of Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative (GLI), in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, said he was delighted to share in the joy of Ethiopia’s resolve to confront the threat posed by climate change “with clarity, courage, and conviction.”

The Ethiopian Green Legacy Programme, which is designed to combat deforestation, enhance biodiversity, and mitigate the adverse effects of climate change, targets the planting of 20 billion tree seedlings over a four-year period.

Senator Shettima, who is in the East African country for an official State visit at the invitation of the Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Dr. Abiy Ahmed Ali, implored nations to enhance their climate plans by doubling their adaptation and mitigation efforts.

He said, “We have long accepted that climate change is not a problem to be solved in a conference room; it is a danger we must arrest with practical actions, with each nation rising to the occasion by responding to the peculiarities of the ecological burdens they face.

“Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative is one such response. It is an inspiring blueprint to reimagine the future. The promise of GLI is the dream of every nation. It is a lesson in vision, in purpose, and in audacity. For those of us who have followed this programme, the numbers are staggering, but the impact is even more compelling.

“To plant 20 billion seedlings within four years, to establish over 20,000 nurseries, and to create hundreds of thousands of green jobs is to show that the future is something we must plant, nurture, and build.”

VP Shettima noted that he was not in Ethiopia to only share in the country’s joy and exchange ideas but to also convey what he described as the deep and abiding solidarity of his boss, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the people of Nigeria.

Applauding those who made the Green Legacy Initiative a reality, he assured Ethiopia of Nigeria’s unflinching support, adding that both countries have the largest stake in Africa’s future.

“Ethiopia and Nigeria are the two most populous countries in Africa. This distinction is not just statistical; it is existential. It means we have the largest stake in Africa’s future. It means that more of our people are exposed to the peril of climate change, and it also means that we face the highest cost of inaction.

“This is why we are not mere spectators in this fight. We are partners. We are participants. And we are prepared to play our part to keep Africa green,” the Vice President pledged, just as he said it is the promise Nigeria and other nations have been making at the Conferences of the Parties (COP) every year.

“It is the pledge we renewed at the last COP in Azerbaijan. And today, we gather not only to stand by this promise but to celebrate the path Ethiopia has illuminated for the world,” he added.

Senator Shettima thanked the government and people of Ethiopia for the warmth and generosity extended to him and other members of the Nigerian delegation.

He said they felt at home, “not just because of the hospitality shown to them, but because the launch of the Green Legacy Programme resonates with the aspirations “to leave behind a planet fit for the dreams of generations to come.

In his address at the event, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed called on African countries to make the Green Legacy a culture, adding that Ethiopia was proud of Nigeria and its bold move to embrace the green initiative.

The Prime Minister called for partnership across African countries, stating that it was time to place less emphasis on foreign aid and begin to focus more on indigenous and home-grown domestic ideas and visions.

“This year’s Green Legacy is to rise by planting, and it is in consonance with our plan to shock the world with our Green Legacy vision. We never received any aid when we set out to achieve our 20 billion tree planting initiative.

“We thank Nigeria for supporting and accepting this initiative. With its population and growing economy, we are sure that the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as exemplified by the esteemed presence of Vice President Kashim Shettima, will go a long way in raising the awareness and collaborative effort needed amongst African countries,” the Prime Minister said.

He further expressed optimism that with Ethiopia’s hosting of the forthcoming United Nations summit on Climate Change, the stage is set for all hands to be on deck to achieve one of Ethiopia’s biggest green revolution plans.

Earlier in the day, Vice President Shettima was guided through Ethiopia’s Unity Park, Science Museum, and the Adwa Victory Memorial Museum, which showcase Ethiopia’s historic and transformative trajectory.

At Launch Of Ethiopia’s GLI, VP Shettima Urges Practical Action Against Climate Change

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VP Shettima Arrives For Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Programme Launch

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VP Shettima Arrives For Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Programme Launch

By: Our Reporter

Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived at the venue for the official launch of Ethiopia’s flagship Green Legacy Programme in Addis Ababa.

The project is part of Nigeria’s commitment to regional and continental collaboration on climate action and aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which prioritizes environmental sustainability, food security, and green economic growth.

VP Shettima is in the company of the Ethiopian Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed.

The Vice President, who is on an official state visit to Ethiopia, will participate in the launch ceremony of the environmental initiative aimed at combating deforestation and mitigating climate change effects.

The Green Legacy Programme targets the planting of 20 billion tree seedlings over a four-year period to enhance biodiversity and address environmental challenges across Ethiopia.

This initiative aligns with Nigeria’s existing endeavours in afforestation and reforestation, such as the Great Green Wall project, which focuses on restoring damaged environments, combating desertification, and fostering climate resilience throughout the Sahel region.

VP Shettima Arrives For Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Programme Launch

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VP Shettima Arrives In Ethiopia For Official State Visit

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VP Shettima Arrives In Ethiopia For Official State Visit

By: Our Reporter

The Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, has arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for an official State visit at the invitation of the Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, His Excellency, Dr. Abiy Ahmed Ali.

He was received at the airport by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, Dr. Gedion Timothewos and other members of the Ethiopian and Nigerian diplomatic corps.

During the visit, Vice President Shettima will participate in the official launch of Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Programme, a flagship environmental initiative.

The programme designed to combat deforestation, enhance biodiversity, and mitigate the adverse effects of climate change targets the planting of 20 billion tree seedlings over a four-year period.

In line with strengthening bilateral ties in agriculture and industrial development, the Vice President will also embark on a strategic tour of key industrial zones and integrated agricultural facilities across selected regions of Ethiopia.

VP Shettima Arrives In Ethiopia For Official State Visit

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