Shettima lists education, skills development as panacea to poverty, hunger… 

Vice President Kashim Shettima yesterday identified education and skills development as panacea for poverty and hunger.

Shettima spoke during a meeting with a delegation from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, led by the President of its Global Growth & Opportunity Division, Mr. Rodger Voorhies, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

According to a statement issued by his spokesman, Stanley Nkwocha, the vice president underscored the impact of climate change on agricultural productivity and the urgent need to adopt climate-smart agricultural practices to ensure food security for Nigeria’s growing population.

He urged the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to forge a strategic partnership with the Nigerian government to enhance agricultural productivity, improved nutrition and strengthen the education sector.

The vice president also charged the Foundation to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s gender empowerment initiatives, noting that the programmes which are focused on the girl child are critical to Nigeria’s drive to alleviate poverty.

Shettima stressed the importance of education and skills development in addressing poverty and hunger, just as he urged the foundation to collaborate with the Nigerian government in expanding access to quality education and further provide opportunities for skills development, particularly in the agricultural sector.

Mr Voorhies said he and his team were in the country to strengthen existing collaborations with Nigeria and also seek other areas of partnership with the new administration especially in priority sectors.

He commended the Tinubu administration’s agenda on food security and healthcare delivery while acknowledging the VP’s leadership and commitment to nutrition and agricultural transformation.