VP Shettima announces decade-long strategy to empower youth, boost food security, and create jobs through strategic investments and global partnerships
At the United Nations Food Systems Summit Stocktake (UNFSS+4) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Nigeria announced a bold 10-year Strategic Action Plan (2026–2035) to overhaul its agricultural sector, with a strong focus on youth-led innovation and food system resilience. Vice President Kashim Shettima revealed the initiative during a high-level dialogue with African youth agri-food entrepreneurs and leaders, stating that empowering young people is central to the nation’s strategy for long-term food security and economic transformation.
Shettima disclosed that the Federal Government has recapitalised the Bank of Agriculture with ₦1.5 trillion ($1 billion), enabling young farmers and agri-business groups to access loans of up to ₦1 million. “This is not charity. It is strategic inclusion. It is resilience engineered into policy,” he said.
The Strategic Action Plan aligns with the Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP) Kampala Declaration (2026–2036), adopted by African Heads of State. It will promote strong youth engagement, public-private partnerships, and coordination of national and subnational priorities. A dedicated Agricultural Sector Working Group and Technical Committee have already been set up to drive its implementation.
In a related development, the Vice President also announced that Nigeria has committed $538.05 million to the first phase of its flagship Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) programme, which has already created over 785,000 jobs. Implemented in partnership with the African Development Bank (AfDB), IFAD, and the Islamic Development Bank, the SAPZ initiative is projected to attract $1 billion in investments by 2027 and reduce post-harvest losses by 80%.
Further highlighting Nigeria’s agricultural transformation agenda, Shettima referenced the $1.1 billion Green Imperative Project with Brazil aimed at enhancing year-round productivity and value chain efficiency. He also confirmed the launch of 2,000 tractors as part of a $70 million investment to cultivate 550,000 hectares and support over 550,000 farming households, with a five-year plan to deploy 10,000 tractors in partnership with John Deere.
Nigeria is also collaborating with the Netherlands, CGIAR, and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) on the Youth in Agribusiness Initiative, targeting 10,000 young people, including 40–50% women, through innovation hubs in horticulture, poultry, aquaculture, and cassava processing. Shettima emphasized the importance of training, mentorship, agro-tech adoption, and robust monitoring to ensure success.
Addressing the Plenary Session on Transforming Food Systems in Complex Settings, the Vice President reiterated the Tinubu administration’s declaration of a State of Emergency on Food Security. Key efforts include reactivating over 500,000 hectares of arable land, deploying strategic food reserves, and expanding access to improved seeds and extension services. Security sector reforms are also underway to ensure farmers can access and work on their lands safely.
Shettima called for urgent international collaboration to recharge the Lake Chad Basin, expand irrigation infrastructure, and build a national farm database. He also advocated for anticipatory climate action, school feeding programmes in conflict zones, and broader resilience-building efforts, declaring that “food security is the trust anchor of peace.”
UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, speaking at the summit, highlighted the severity of global food insecurity, noting that over 37 million children under five are suffering acute malnutrition this year, comparable to the population of Canada. She urged leaders to prioritize long-term development over short-term fixes. “We must choose transformation over dependency,” she said, commending President Tinubu for integrating resilience and sustainability into Nigeria’s food policies.
Other notable speakers included World Food Programme Executive Director Cindy McCain, Somalia’s Deputy Prime Minister Salah Jama, and Chad’s Moubarack Roubo from the Ministry of Agricultural Production and Industrialisation.
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