Nigeria has reinforced its agricultural collaboration with Ethiopia by donating 100,000 cashew seeds and 2,000 seedlings to support crop cultivation and food security efforts. The contribution, announced on Sunday in Addis Ababa by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to Nigeria’s Vice-President on Media and Communications, underscores a bilateral commitment to sustainable farming practices across Africa.
The donation, which Ethiopia’s Minister of State for Agriculture, Dr. Efa Boru, formally received, is estimated to cover approximately 600 hectares of farmland. Nkwocha described the gesture as part of a reciprocal exchange between the two nations, referencing Ethiopia’s prior provision of 2,000 Haas avocado and 2,000 coffee seedlings to Nigeria in June 2025. “This partnership reflects our shared vision for agricultural advancement and resource-sharing to tackle food insecurity,” he stated.
The initiative aligns with Nigerian President Bola Tinubu’s Agricultural Transformation Agenda, which prioritizes modernizing farming practices and fostering regional cooperation. Nkwocha emphasized Nigeria’s focus on “Green Revolution Diplomacy” — a strategy leveraging agricultural collaboration to strengthen international ties while addressing pressing challenges like climate resilience and crop productivity.
The announcement coincided with Vice-President Kashim Shettima’s arrival in Addis Ababa for the second United Nations Food Systems Summit, scheduled from July 27 to 29. The event, a follow-up to the 2021 summit, aims to evaluate global progress in creating equitable and climate-resilient food systems. Leaders from participating nations are expected to outline actionable steps to accelerate sustainable agriculture, reduce hunger, and enhance supply chain inclusivity.
Agricultural exchanges between African nations have gained traction in recent years as governments seek to diversify economies and reduce reliance on food imports. Cashew production, a key export commodity for both Nigeria and Ethiopia, offers economic opportunities for smallholder farmers and contributes to job creation. Similarly, Ethiopia’s donation of avocado and coffee seedlings to Nigeria highlights mutual efforts to expand crop varieties and adapt to shifting agricultural demands.
Experts note that such collaborations could serve as a model for intra-African partnerships under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which aims to boost cross-border trade and economic integration. With climate change and population growth straining food resources, initiatives focusing on knowledge transfer and resource-sharing are increasingly viewed as critical to long-term regional stability.
Global attention now turns to the outcomes of the UN summit, where discussions on financing mechanisms, technology adoption, and policy harmonization are expected to shape the future of food systems worldwide. The Nigerian delegation’s participation signals the country’s intent to position itself as a proactive contributor to continental and global agricultural innovation.
