ABUJA — Vice President Kashim Shettima has departed Abuja for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to lead a high-level Nigerian delegation on a mission aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s response to malnutrition through a coordinated, multisectoral approach.
Shettima’s visit is part of the inaugural Nigeria-Ethiopia Nutrition Leadership Exchange Visit, which seeks to provide both countries with an opportunity to share practical experiences on tackling malnutrition, food insecurity and poor nutrition outcomes.
The engagement, held at the invitation of Ethiopia’s Deputy Prime Minister, Temesgen Tiruneh, comes as Nigeria explores ways to improve coordination among the various sectors involved in addressing nutrition challenges.
According to a statement by the Vice President’s media aide, Stanley Nkwocha, the exchange will go beyond conventional health interventions. It will examine how sectors including agriculture, food production, economic planning, emergency management and sub-national governments can work together under a coordinated national nutrition strategy.
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The Nigerian delegation is expected to study Ethiopia’s multisectoral nutrition model and consider how relevant elements could be adapted to strengthen Nigeria’s own nutrition delivery system.
As part of the programme, Shettima and members of the delegation will engage Ethiopian government officials and visit agricultural and community-based initiatives designed to improve access to nutritious food and strengthen household livelihoods.
The field programme includes visits to 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.
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The visits are expected to provide Nigerian officials with practical insights into the relationship between agricultural production, food availability, household livelihoods and improved nutrition.
A key focus of the exchange will be Ethiopia’s experience in developing a federal, state and local compact on nutrition, with Nigerian officials examining how coordinated action across the three tiers of government could support more effective nutrition policies and interventions.
Shettima’s leadership of the Nigerian delegation highlights the administration’s emphasis on high-level political coordination in addressing nutrition-related challenges.
The delegation includes Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal, Jigawa State Governor Umar Namadi, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, and Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Zubaida Umar Abubakar.
The Ethiopia engagement will also offer Nigerian officials an opportunity to observe how national policies are translated into practical interventions at the community level.
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Following the conclusion of his engagements, Vice President Shettima is expected to return to Abuja.
The broader objective of the exchange is to strengthen coordination across government and identify practical approaches that can contribute to improved nutrition outcomes for Nigerians.
