Nigeria is rolling out artificial intelligence and advanced climate tools to strengthen the country’s food production and fight hunger.
Vice President Kashim Shettima revealed this major shift on Monday at the United Nations Food Systems Summit in Addis Ababa. He said AI, geospatial analytics, and satellite-driven climate intelligence are now at the heart of Nigeria’s new strategy for agriculture.
“We are deploying these tools to monitor production, enhance transparency, connect producers to markets, and reduce waste across the value chain,” Shettima said.
The government is also investing in Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones, in partnership with the African Development Bank and IFAD. These hubs are expected to create jobs, attract private investment, and link rural farmers to local and global markets. Shettima stressed that using technology is not just about producing more food, but about ensuring that Nigeria’s food system is healthy and sustainable.
Beyond tech, Nigeria is feeding more school children and making sure nutrition reaches communities in every local government through the Nutrition 774 initiative. The government’s new National Multi-Sectoral Plan of Action for Food and Nutrition is set to improve coordination and delivery, with new Nutrition Departments popping up across ministries.
The push for transformation comes as climate change, conflicts, and market shocks threaten food supplies globally. Other African leaders at the summit called for urgent investment in agriculture to tackle hunger and climate risks. UN Secretary-General António Guterres elaborated on how food systems are tied to climate, justice, and people’s futures.
The challenge is urgent. Recent slowdowns, conflicts, and less development funding mean more people go hungry. But officials say Nigeria’s big bet on AI and climate tech shows determination to build a food system that meets the needs of today and secures tomorrow.
