Vice President Kashim Shettima has led a Nigerian delegation to Ethiopia for a government-to-government exchange aimed at strengthening the country’s approach to tackling malnutrition.
Shettima departed Abuja for Addis Ababa at the invitation of Ethiopia’s Deputy Prime Minister, Temesgen Tiruneh, who is championing the country’s multisectoral strategy for improving nutrition outcomes.
The visit forms part of the inaugural Nigeria-Ethiopia Nutrition Leadership Exchange, which is designed to provide both countries with an opportunity to share experiences and strategies for improving nutrition delivery.
During the engagement, Nigeria’s delegation is expected to study Ethiopia’s government-led nutrition programmes and explore how similar approaches can strengthen coordination among federal, state and local governments in Nigeria.
The Nigerian team will also visit selected agricultural, training and community-based facilities to gain practical insights into Ethiopia’s efforts to improve food and nutrition security.
The planned visits include a wheat farm and banana plantation in Oromia, the ‘Bounty of the Basket’ Training Centre and households in Mojo, as well as Jabdu Motors in Bishoftu.
The exchange is expected to provide an opportunity for Nigerian officials to examine how agricultural production, community interventions and government policies can be integrated to improve nutrition outcomes.
Shettima is accompanied by Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal; Jigawa State Governor, Umar Namadi; the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu; the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari; and the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency, Zubaida Umar.
The Vice President is expected to return to Abuja after completing his engagements in Addis Ababa.
