Vice President Kashim Shettima has emphasized the pivotal role of education and skills development in combatting poverty and hunger in Nigeria. This statement was made during a meeting with a delegation from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, led by the President of its Global Growth & Opportunity Division, Mr. Rodger Voorhies, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Wednesday.
VP Shettima highlighted the profound impact of climate change on agricultural productivity and the critical need to embrace climate-smart agricultural practices to ensure food security for Nigeria’s burgeoning population.
Strategic Partnership
The Vice President urged the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to establish a strategic partnership with the Nigerian government to bolster agricultural productivity, enhance nutrition, and fortify the education sector. He also urged the Foundation to support President Bola Tinubu’s gender empowerment initiatives, particularly emphasizing the significance of programs focused on the girl child in Nigeria’s quest to alleviate poverty.
Furthermore, Vice President Shettima expressed gratitude for the foundation’s substantial contributions to Nigeria, particularly in the areas of polio eradication and primary healthcare delivery. He stressed the necessity for the foundation’s continuous support in the Nigerian agricultural sector, stating, “We are investing heavily in agricultural innovation and best agricultural practices to enhance productivity. However, we need the expertise and resources of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to accelerate our progress.”
VP Shettima reiterated the vital importance of education and skills development in addressing poverty and hunger, emphasizing the need for collaboration with the Nigerian government to expand access to quality education and create opportunities for skills development, particularly in the agricultural sector. “By the end of the century, we are projected to be the most populous nation on earth. This demographic bulge can be transformed into a dividend or a disaster. Investing in education and skills development is crucial for ensuring that our growing population becomes a source of strength and not a burden,” he stated.
Highlighting the imperative for a robust partnership between the Nigerian government and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, VP Shettima expressed confidence that such collaboration could yield transformative outcomes in addressing Nigeria’s agricultural, nutritional, and educational challenges, thereby paving the way for a more prosperous and sustainable future for the nation. “If a nation is not independent in food production, it remains a dependent nation. So, I am soliciting your partnership and attention. Join us in our drive towards combating poverty and hunger in sub-Saharan Africa as you did in Southeast Asia,” he added.
Collaboration
Prior to VP Shettima’s remarks, Mr. Voorhies and his team expressed their intention to bolster existing collaborations with Nigeria and explore additional areas of partnership with the new administration, particularly in priority sectors. Commending the Tinubu administration’s commitment to food security and healthcare delivery, Mr. Voorhies affirmed the foundation’s dedication and preparedness to support endeavors aimed at achieving set objectives and goals.
The meeting was attended by Jeremie Zoungrana, outgoing Country Director of the foundation; Uche Amaonwu, Interim Country Director; Chief of Staff, Nutrition, Carol Welch; Senior Programme Officer, Agriculture, Audu Grema; and Senior Programme Officer, Policy and Advocacy, Katja Schiller Nwator.
