Vice President Kashim Shettima has declared Nigeria’s strategic intent to pursue a transformative, private sector-led approach to reforming its food systems.
This ambitious strategy aims to position Nigeria as a continental frontrunner in agricultural innovation, with the government committed to providing robust support structures.
He spoke yesterday during a briefing by the Task Force on the 2nd UN Food Systems Summit Stocktake (UNFSS+4) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
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Shettima hinted at the potential introduction of single-digit credit facilities to finance agricultural ventures.
He drew a parallel to the early development model of countries like South Korea, which significantly supported industrial conglomerates.
“Our role as a government is to derisk, catalyse and convene,” Shettima stated, outlining a framework designed to empower private enterprise through supportive government policies.
“We will be active in policy formulation and support structures. We should allow the private sector to drive the process.”
As Nigeria prepares its delegation for the upcoming summit, co-hosted by Ethiopia and Italy, Shettima outlined three primary objectives.
Establishing Nigeria as a thought leader on African food systems reform, leveraging international partnerships to align with domestic priorities, and advancing a private sector-led blueprint for continental food transformation.
Shettima underscored the broader significance of this shift: “Food systems transformation is not just about reacting to crises but about building the economic backbone of a resilient Nigeria.
“Our pathway is clear – empower the private sector, unlock functioning markets and ensure that every reform we pursue lays the foundation for long-term national productivity and prosperity.”
The 2nd UN Food Systems Summit Stocktake, scheduled to convene global leaders in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from July 27th to 29th, 2025, will assess progress made on food systems transformation commitments from the inaugural summit.
Dr Sanjo Faniran, National Convener and Director of the Social Development Office, Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, recalled that Shettima’s leadership at the 2023 stocktaking events in Rome was instrumental in guiding Nigeria’s current food system transformation efforts.
Faniran emphasised the crucial importance of the Vice President’s presence at the forthcoming Ethiopia summit, noting ongoing collaborations with all 36 states and the FCT.
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Among the key sideline events at the summit, Faniran mentioned a ministerial roundtable on public finance, trade, and responsible investment, organised by the World Bank and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) on the second day.
This roundtable, to be convened by the United Nations Deputy Secretary General, Hajiya Amina Mohammed, further underscores the necessity of high-level Nigerian representation.
