Abuja, Nigeria — Vice President Kashim Shettima has called for urgent and unified action to combat hunger, describing it as a universal challenge that transcends borders and demands global attention. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the National and Regional Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum, organized by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Shettima underscored the critical role of agriculture in securing Nigeria’s future.

The Hand-in-Hand initiative, launched by FAO in 2019, aims to drive sustainable development through targeted investments in agriculture, food systems, and environmental resilience. Addressing the forum as Special Guest of Honour, Shettima emphasized that food security is not just a matter of survival—it is a cornerstone of global stability.

“Nothing unifies humanity as much as hunger,” he said. “It is the great equaliser that reveals our vulnerabilities and the shared fragility of our existence. Food is not merely a matter of survival, it is a matter of global security.”

Shettima highlighted the importance of engaging young people in agriculture, noting that the sector holds the key to job creation and economic transformation. He outlined the Tinubu administration’s strategic blueprint, which aims to lift 35 million Nigerians out of poverty and create 21 million full-time jobs in rural and agrarian communities.

Central to this vision is the need to improve access to land and resources for serious investors, expand mechanization to boost productivity, and strengthen agricultural credit systems to ensure capital reaches those who need it most. Shettima also identified irrigation as a transformative tool, pointing out that Nigeria has the capacity to irrigate over three million hectares of land but currently utilizes less than ten percent.

“Strategic investment in irrigation alone could triple yields, free us from seasonal dependency, and fortify our resilience against climate shocks,” he said.

The Vice President assured stakeholders that Nigeria is actively reforming its policies to attract investment, with a focus on regulatory improvements, public-private partnerships, and agri-tech innovation.

“Nigeria is open for business, and we are ready to partner with you,” he declared. “Let us work hand-in-hand to build a Nigeria and a region where no one goes to bed hungry, where rural communities are hubs of wealth creation, and where agriculture is the true foundation of our prosperity.”

The forum also drew praise from international partners. EU Ambassador to Nigeria Gautier Mignot commended the country’s commitment to agriculture, calling it the backbone of the economy. He reaffirmed the EU’s long-term partnership with Nigeria and announced an investment of over €80 million to support value chain development across seven states.

FAO Country Representative Dr. Hussein Gadain echoed these sentiments, applauding Nigeria’s leadership in advancing food security. He noted that the Hand-in-Hand initiative has made significant progress in identifying and aligning agricultural investment opportunities.

Gadain described the program as FAO’s flagship approach—“evidence-based, country-led, and country-owned”—designed to accelerate agricultural transformation and sustainable rural development.

As the forum continues, stakeholders remain focused on forging strategic partnerships and unlocking the full potential of Nigeria’s agricultural sector to ensure a food-secure future for all.