Education, Skills Dev. Panacea for Tackling Poverty – Shettima

The Vice President of Nigeria, Kashim Shettima Mustaphar has identified education and skills development as panacea for tackling poverty and hunger in the country.

This was made known in a statement issued by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice President), Stanley Nkwocha, he revealed this Wednesday 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.

VP Shettima emphasized how climate change affects agricultural productivity and how urgently climate-smart agriculture practices must be implemented to guarantee food security for Nigeria’s expanding population.

The Vice President therefore pleaded with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to establish a strategic alliance with the Nigerian government in order to boost the country’s agricultural output, enhance nutrition, and fortify the educational system.

Meanwhile, he tasked the Foundation with assisting President Bola Tinubu’s activities pertaining to gender empowerment, emphasizing the importance of the girl child-focused programming to Nigeria’s efforts to reduce poverty.

Shettima conveyed his gratitude for the foundation’s noteworthy contributions to Nigeria, especially in the fields of primary health care delivery and the eradication of polio.

Highlighting the need for the foundation’s continued support in the Nigerian agricultural sector, the VP said, “We are investing heavily in agricultural innovation and best agricultural practices to enhance productivity. However, we need the expertise and resources of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to accelerate our progress.”