…… Seeks Gates Foundation support to enhance Agricultural Sector
Vice President Kashim Shettima,has identified education and skills development as panacea for addressing poverty and hunger in Nigeria.
He stated this Wednesday during a meeting with a delegation from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation led by the President of its Global Growth & Opportunity Division, Mr Rodger Voorhies, at the Presidential Villa.
According to a post shared on his verified X platform @KashimSM, the Vice President underscored the impact of climate change on agricultural productivity and the urgent need to adopt climate-smart agricultural practices to ensure food security for Nigeria’s growing population.
Accordingly, the Vice President urged the Gates Foundation to forge a strategic partnership with the Nigerian government to enhance agricultural productivity, improve nutrition and strengthen the education sector.
He also charged the Foundation to support President Bola Tinubu’s gender empowerment initiatives, noting that the programmes which are focused on the girl child are critical to Nigeria’s drive to alleviate poverty.
The Vice President expressed his appreciation for the foundation’s significant contributions to Nigeria, particularly in the areas of polio eradication and primary healthcare delivery.
Highlighting the need for the foundation’s continued support in the Nigerian agricultural sector, the VP said, “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.”
