The Federal Government, in partnership with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), is set to expedite the launch of the Value Chain Development Programme in Northern Nigeria.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima made this known during a bilateral meeting with the IFAD delegation, led by its President, Mr. Alvaro Lario, on the sidelines of the United Nations Food Systems Summit Stocktake (UNFSS+4) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Shettima noted that the programme would improve the livelihoods of rural communities, increase their incomes, and enhance access to food. He emphasized that the administration of President Bola Tinubu remains committed to reforms and initiatives aimed at reducing poverty and strengthening food security across the country.
“The Value Chain Development is an idea whose time has come,” Shettima stated. “We must fast-track the process of kickstarting the programme because time is of the essence.”
He also highlighted the government’s commitment to extending the Special Agro-Processing Zones (SAPZ) to more states, noting Nigeria’s rapidly growing population and the importance of investing in youth.
“Our population is 230 million, and by 2050, we will be the third most populous nation on earth. The average age of Nigerians is 16.9 years. The future belongs to the youth, and we must invest in them,” he said.
On behalf of President Tinubu, Shettima expressed gratitude for IFAD’s continued support.
“We want to register our profound appreciation for the support we are receiving from IFAD. We are eager to deepen this partnership to inspire confidence in the Nigerian people. The President has the courage and conviction to take far-reaching policy decisions that will bring about real change,” he said.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, also expressed appreciation to IFAD for its consistent support.
“We are seeing measurable outcomes and successes from IFAD projects in Nigeria,” Kyari said. “These are not just on paper they are visible on the ground. The Regional Director and the Country Director, Dr. Dede Ekoue, have been instrumental in driving results. Dr. Ekoue, in particular, keeps everyone on their toes.”
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In his remarks, IFAD President Alvaro Lario reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to accelerating the implementation of the value chain development programme in Northern Nigeria.
“We are only awaiting the signing of the financing agreement. Once that is finalized, we can move forward with implementation. The needs are urgent, and we must act quickly,” Lario said.
He also assured that IFAD would mobilize additional financing for Nigeria, not only from its own resources but also from climate funds, other multilateral agencies, and interested governments.
Lario described the relationship between IFAD and Nigeria as strong and growing, and revealed that he plans to visit Nigeria in September 2025 to meet with President Tinubu.
