The Honourable Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, today welcomed a high-level delegation from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), led by Dr. Hussein Gadain, to his office for a strategic meeting aimed at strengthening collaboration and reviewing ongoing agricultural and food security initiatives in Nigeria.
In his address, the Minister expressed the Federal Government’s profound appreciation for FAO’s longstanding partnership and technical support, which have been instrumental in advancing sustainable agriculture, food security, and rural development across the country.
> “Agriculture is not only the backbone of our economy but also central to the well-being and livelihoods of millions of Nigerians,” the Minister stated. “Our collaboration with FAO is vital in achieving national priorities such as food security, poverty reduction, job creation, and climate resilience.”
The Minister further acknowledged the significant contributions of FAO-supported programs, including climate-smart agriculture, livestock development, early warning systems, food security analysis, and policy formulation. He underscored the need for these efforts to align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 2: Zero Hunger.
The session provided an opportunity to review the progress of existing projects, address implementation challenges, and identify new areas for enhanced cooperation.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment, Comrade Olawande assured the FAO delegation of continued support to deepen the partnership in pursuit of shared development objectives.
In his response, Dr. Hussein Gadain, FAO Representative in Nigeria and to ECOWAS, reaffirmed the organization’s dedication to supporting Nigeria’s agricultural transformation agenda and building capacity to tackle emerging challenges in the sector.
