Vice President Kashim Shettima departed Abuja for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, leading a high-level Nigerian delegation on a government-to-government mission aimed at strengthening nutrition delivery across the country. This historic nutrition leadership exchange is expected to expose Nigerian officials to Ethiopia's multi-sectoral approach to tackling malnutrition and building stronger coordination among national and sub-national governments.
Shettima is attending the inaugural Nigeria-Ethiopia Nutrition Leadership Exchange Visit at the invitation of Ethiopia's Deputy Prime Minister, Temesgen Tiruneh. The exchange is designed to enable stakeholders from both countries to share experiences on developing an effective federal, state and local government compact on nutrition. This visit aims to enhance Nigeria's nutrition delivery by learning from Ethiopia's successful strategies.
During the visit, the Nigerian delegation will examine how a government-led and coordinated nutrition plan can improve service delivery and outcomes. They will study Ethiopia's implementation models across agriculture, communities and the private sector. The delegation will also visit key facilities and projects supporting nutrition delivery, including a wheat farm and banana plantation in Oromia.
The team will visit the "Bounty of the Basket" Training Centre and selected households in Mojo to gain practical insights into Ethiopia's integrated development and nutrition initiatives. Additionally, they will visit Jabdu Motors in Bishoftu as part of the programme. These visits are intended to provide Nigerian officials with a comprehensive understanding of Ethiopia's approach to nutrition delivery.
Shettima is accompanied by Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, and his Jigawa State counterpart, Umar Namadi. The delegation also includes the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu; Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari; and the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency, Mrs. Zubaida Umar Abubakar.
The Presidency said the mission forms part of efforts to strengthen coordination and leadership around nutrition interventions in Nigeria. The goal is to ensure closer alignment among the Federal Government, states and local governments. This initiative aims to improve nutrition outcomes and address malnutrition in Nigeria.
The Vice President is expected to return to Abuja at the conclusion of his engagements in Addis Ababa. The outcome of this visit is anticipated to have a positive impact on Nigeria's nutrition delivery and coordination among governments.
Key points
- The Nigerian delegation will study Ethiopia's multi-sectoral approach to tackling malnutrition.
- The visit aims to enhance coordination and leadership around nutrition interventions in Nigeria.
- The delegation will visit key facilities and projects supporting nutrition delivery in Ethiopia.
