Shettima: Nigeria to Adopt Ethiopia’s Agricultural Model to Achieve Food Sovereignty
Vice President Kashim Shettima has said Nigeria will leverage Ethiopia’s agricultural transformation to expand mechanised farming, improve food production and strengthen food security as part of efforts to make agriculture a major driver of economic growth.
Shettima stated this on Thursday while leading the Nigerian delegation on a tour of farms and agricultural facilities in Ethiopia’s Oromia region during the Ethiopia–Nigeria Leadership Exchange.
He said Nigeria intended to draw lessons from Ethiopia’s agricultural development, particularly its progress in wheat production, mechanisation and food self-sufficiency.
The Vice President cited Ethiopia’s transition from importing about $1 billion worth of wheat annually to achieving self-sufficiency and producing surpluses for export to neighbouring countries, including Djibouti and Kenya.
He also noted the country’s progress towards self-sufficiency in rice production, describing its agricultural experience as a model Nigeria and other African countries could study.
“We intend to embrace improved seeds, mechanisation, and climate-smart agriculture,” Shettima said.
He stressed that food security was fundamental to national sovereignty, warning that excessive dependence on imported food could undermine a country’s independence.
“Food dependency compromises our sovereignty. Without independence in food production, a nation remains incomplete in its sovereignty,” he said.
Shettima expressed optimism that stronger agricultural cooperation between Nigeria and Ethiopia could improve food production across Africa, urging both countries to learn from each other’s experiences and adopt modern farming practices.
He described Ethiopia’s agricultural transformation as an example of Africa’s potential to address food shortages, expand exports and create economic opportunities.
“Africa must learn to feed itself. Ethiopia is doing it and Nigeria is on course to do the same. Ethiopia is a success story worthy of emulation,” he said.
The Vice President said Nigeria planned to introduce a large-scale tree-planting campaign from the next rainy season, targeting the planting of 20 billion trees.
According to him, the initiative will draw lessons from Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative, which combines environmental restoration with economic and livelihood benefits.
“We will embark on a massive tree-planting campaign in the next rainy season. It requires a lot of planning, energy and drive, which Ethiopia was able to galvanise its population into doing. We intend to plant 20 billion trees,” he said.
Shettima added that the combined population and economic potential of Nigeria and Ethiopia could help drive agricultural development and food security across the continent.
Earlier, President of the Oromia Regional State, Shimelis Abdisa, outlined the region’s agricultural achievements and the sector’s contribution to Ethiopia’s economy.
Abdisa said more than 200 crop varieties were cultivated across Ethiopia, while the country had expanded exports of agricultural products, including bananas, avocados and coffee.
He added that wheat production generated more than $3.1 billion annually for Ethiopia, describing the country’s wheat as competitive in international markets.
The Oromia president also disclosed plans to collaborate with the Dangote Group on fertiliser production for farmers in the region. He said poultry production had expanded significantly beyond its initial capacity of two million birds, with further growth planned.
During the tour, Shettima visited wheat, banana and papaya farms to observe Ethiopia’s agricultural production systems and efforts to increase food output.
The visit formed part of the broader Nigeria–Ethiopia leadership exchange aimed at strengthening cooperation and sharing experiences in agriculture, food security and economic development.
Stanley Nkwocha Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications Office of the Vice President.
Shettima: Nigeria to Adopt Ethiopia’s Agricultural Model to Achieve Food Sovereignty