Vice President Kashim Shettima arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, over the weekend to represent Nigeria at the second United Nations Food Systems Summit.
In a symbolic diplomatic gesture, he presented Ethiopia with 2,000 cashew seedlings and 100,000 cashew seeds on behalf of Nigeria.
His aircraft touched down at Bole International Airport at exactly 4:26 p.m. local time.
He was received by Ethiopia’s Deputy Prime Minister, Temesgen Tiruneh, alongside senior Nigerian officials, including the Chargé d’Affaires at the Nigerian Embassy in Ethiopia, Ambassador Nasir Aminu.
Also present at the airport to welcome the Vice President were the Finance Attaché, Dr. Suleiman Dauda; Deputy Defence Attaché (Air Force), Wing Commander Gabriel Batubo; Deputy Head of Mission, Ambassador Macy Ogbede; and First Secretary, Mr. Jangado Ishaku.
Shortly after his arrival, Vice President Shettima convened a strategy meeting with members of the Nigerian delegation, including Marion Moon, the Technical Assistant to the President on Agriculture and Executive Secretary of the Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit (PFSCU).
In a statement released yesterday in Abuja, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications in the Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, said Shettima was briefed on Nigeria’s key priorities and planned engagements at the summit.
The Vice President is expected to join world leaders in crucial discussions on transforming the coffee value chain and will take part in roundtables and high-level meetings focused on strengthening Nigeria’s food systems and boosting agricultural sustainability.
The summit, which began yesterday and concludes tomorrow, serves as a global review of progress made since the inaugural 2021 Food Systems Summit and aims to inspire renewed commitments toward building inclusive, resilient, and sustainable food systems.
Nigeria’s priorities at the summit, as outlined by the Vice President during a pre-summit briefing in Abuja, revolve around three key goals: establishing Nigeria as a leader in African food systems reform, aligning international partnerships with domestic agricultural objectives, and promoting a private sector-driven approach to achieving food security across the continent.
In a significant move to enhance bilateral agricultural collaboration, Nigeria donated 2,000 cashew seedlings and 100,000 cashew seeds to Ethiopia, enough to cultivate approximately 600 hectares of farmland.
Ethiopia’s Minister of State for Agriculture, Dr. Efa Muleta Boru, accepted the donation, which follows Ethiopia’s earlier gift to Nigeria in June 2025 of 2,000 Haas avocado seedlings and 2,000 coffee seedlings.
This exchange of seedlings highlights the deepening agricultural ties between the two leading African nations and supports President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s agricultural transformation initiative, described by officials as “Green Revolution Diplomacy” a strategy that leverages agricultural partnerships to strengthen diplomatic relations and jointly address food security challenges.
Vice President Shettima is also slated to take part in ministerial roundtables focused on public finance, trade, and responsible investment, as well as field visits and networking sessions highlighting innovative and scalable solutions for food systems.
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