Nigerian VP Shettima outlines tech-based food strategies at UN summit
Africa Seeks Unified Food Strategy as Nigeria Showcases Innovation in Agriculture
ADDIS ABABA – Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim Shettima joined African leaders at the United Nations Food Systems Summit Stocktake (UNFSS+4) in Ethiopia’s capital on Sunday, calling for unified continental action to tackle food insecurity and build resilient agricultural systems.
Shared Vision for Food Security and Sustainable Development
Speaking at the opening session of the summit, Shettima emphasized the need for collective African efforts aimed at ensuring food security, human dignity, and long-term sustainability. He said the continent requires predictable and concessional financing to drive rural transformation, agricultural modernization, and infrastructure development.
Nigeria’s Technological Strategy Against Hunger
Highlighting Nigeria’s specific efforts, the Vice President revealed that the country is leveraging emerging technologies—including artificial intelligence (AI), geospatial analytics, and satellite climate intelligence—to scale up food production and reduce national hunger levels.
“We are scaling our agricultural drive with modern technology,” Shettima stated, noting that AI and data tools are integral to Nigeria’s approach to ending food insecurity.
The summit, hosted under the coordination of the United Nations Food Systems Coordination Hub, focuses on monitoring progress since the 2021 UNFSS and preparing for the 2025 meeting in Rome.
Calls for Climate-Aligned Agricultural Investment
Shettima also urged stakeholders to align climate financing with food systems investments, stressing the connection between environmental sustainability and agricultural resilience across Africa.
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The summit brought together policymakers, civil society, and technical experts from across Africa and beyond to assess policy progress, renew political commitments, and promote shared frameworks in combating hunger on the continent.
