Vice President Kashim Shettima departed Abuja on Tuesday to lead a Nigerian delegation to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for a government-to-government peer exchange on accelerating nutrition delivery. The delegation comprises six members, including Governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, and his Jigawa State counterpart, Umar Namadi. The trip was announced in a release issued by Shettima's Media Assistant, Stanley Nkwocha.
The Nigerian team will participate in the inaugural Nigeria-Ethiopia Nutrition Leadership Exchange Visit, aimed at enabling stakeholders to share experiences of building a federal, state, and local compact on nutrition. The forum is an invitation from the deputy Prime Minister of Ethiopia, H.E. Temesgen Tiruneh, who is championing the country's multi-sectoral approach to boost nutrition. Shettima's delegation will exchange experiences with Ethiopia on how a government-led plan can improve nutrition delivery.
During the visit, the Nigerian team will tour key establishments dedicated to boosting nutrition delivery across Ethiopia. Scheduled visits include a wheat farm and a banana plantation in Oromia, the 'Bounty of the Basket' Training Centre, and household visits in Mojo. The team will also visit Jabdu Motors in Bishoftu. These visits aim to provide insights into Ethiopia's approaches to improving nutrition.
The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, and his Agriculture and Food Security counterpart, Senator Abubakar Kyari, are part of the delegation. Also included is the Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency, Mrs. Zubaida Umar Abubakar. Their participation highlights the Nigerian government's commitment to addressing nutrition challenges.
Ethiopia's multi-sectoral approach to nutrition has been recognized as a model for other countries. By sharing experiences with Nigeria, the Ethiopian government aims to support the development of a similar approach in Nigeria. The Nigeria-Ethiopia Nutrition Leadership Exchange Visit is expected to strengthen collaboration between the two countries on nutrition issues.
The Vice President's trip is expected to yield practical insights into improving nutrition delivery in Nigeria. By learning from Ethiopia's experiences, the Nigerian government can develop effective strategies to address nutrition challenges. The delegation's visit is also expected to foster stronger ties between Nigeria and Ethiopia in the area of nutrition.
Vice President Shettima is scheduled to return to Abuja at the end of his engagements in Addis Ababa. The outcome of the Nigeria-Ethiopia Nutrition Leadership Exchange Visit is expected to contribute to Nigeria's efforts to improve nutrition delivery and address related challenges. The visit underscores the importance of collaboration and knowledge sharing in addressing pressing global issues like nutrition.
Key points
- The Nigerian delegation will participate in the inaugural Nigeria-Ethiopia Nutrition Leadership Exchange Visit to share experiences on building a federal, state, and local compact on nutrition.
- The delegation will tour key establishments in Ethiopia, including a wheat farm, banana plantation, and training centre, to gain insights into the country's approaches to improving nutrition.
- The visit aims to support the development of a government-led plan to improve nutrition delivery in Nigeria, leveraging Ethiopia's multi-sectoral approach as a model.
