August 26, 2025 – The Honourable Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, received a high-level delegation from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), led by Dr. Hussein Gadain, in his office for a strategic meeting aimed at strengthening collaboration and reviewing ongoing initiatives in Nigeria’s agriculture and food sectors.
In his remarks, the Minister conveyed the Federal Government’s appreciation for FAO’s longstanding partnership and continued technical support in advancing sustainable agriculture, food security, and rural development.
He stated, “Agriculture is not only the backbone of our economy but also central to the well-being and livelihoods of millions of Nigerians. Our collaboration with FAO is vital in achieving national priorities such as food security, poverty reduction, job creation, and climate resilience.”
The Minister acknowledged the positive contributions of FAO-supported programmes in areas such as climate-smart agriculture, livestock development, early warning systems, food security analysis, and policy formulation.
He highlighted the importance of aligning initiatives with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 2: Zero Hunger, as a priority for Nigeria’s development strategy.
The meeting created an avenue to review progress on ongoing agricultural projects, address existing implementation challenges, and identify new areas of cooperation between the Federal Government and FAO.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment, Comrade Olawande assured the delegation of sustained support to strengthen the partnership in pursuit of shared development objectives.
In response, FAO Representative in Nigeria and to ECOWAS, Dr. Hussein Gadain, reiterated the organization’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s agricultural transformation and building national capacities to address emerging challenges, emphasizing FAO’s dedication to long-term collaboration with Nigeria.