Vice President Kashim Shettima arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Sunday to represent Nigeria at the Second United Nations Food Systems Summit, delivering a strong message of agricultural diplomacy through the donation of 2,000 cashew seedlings and 100,000 cashew seeds to the Ethiopian government.
His aircraft touched down at Bole International Airport at 4:26 pm local time, where he was welcomed by Ethiopia’s Deputy Prime Minister, Temesgen Tiruneh, alongside senior Nigerian officials including Ambassador Nasir Aminu, Chargé d’Affaires at the Nigerian Embassy in Ethiopia.
Also on hand to receive the Vice President were Dr. Suleiman Dauda, Finance Attaché; Wing Commander Gabriel Batubo, Deputy Defence Attaché (Air Force); Ambassador Macy Ogbede, Deputy Head of Mission; and Mr. Jangado Ishaku, First Secretary.
Following his arrival, Vice President Shettima convened a strategy session with the Nigerian delegation, including Marion Moon, Technical Assistant to the President on Agriculture and Executive Secretary of the Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit (PFSCU).
According to Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice President), Shettima was briefed on Nigeria’s key deliverables and engagements at the high-level summit.
The Vice President will participate in key sessions on transforming the coffee value chain, as well as roundtables and strategic dialogues focused on strengthening Nigeria’s food systems and advancing agricultural resilience.
The summit, taking place from July 27 to 29, is a global review of progress since the 2021 inaugural Food Systems Summit and is expected to inspire renewed global commitments to inclusive, resilient, and sustainable food systems.
During a pre-summit briefing in Abuja, Shettima outlined Nigeria’s threefold strategic goal:
“Positioning Nigeria as a leader in African food systems reform, aligning global partnerships with local agricultural priorities, and championing a private sector-led transformation model for food security across the continent.”
In a major gesture of bilateral agricultural cooperation, Nigeria donated 2,000 cashew seedlings and 100,000 cashew seeds to Ethiopia resources capable of covering approximately 600 hectares of farmland.
The donation was formally received by Ethiopia’s Minister of State for Agriculture, Dr. Efa Muleta Boru, and reflects a growing exchange between the two nations.
This follows Ethiopia’s earlier donation of 2,000 Haas avocado seedlings and 2,000 coffee seedlings to Nigeria in June 2025.
The mutual seedling exchange signals what Nigerian officials call a rising era of “Green Revolution Diplomacy”, where agriculture becomes a key tool for enhancing diplomatic relations and addressing shared food security issues.
The exchange “aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s agricultural transformation plan,” a senior official noted.
Vice President Shettima is also slated to take part in ministerial roundtables covering public finance, trade, and responsible investment. He will attend field visits and networking events showcasing innovative food systems solutions.
The summit provides a platform for countries like Nigeria to highlight scalable agricultural models, attract investment, and collaborate on solutions to persistent food challenges across the continent.
