Vice President Kashim Shettima has announced that Nigeria will launch a nationwide tree-planting campaign during the upcoming rainy season as part of its commitment to reforestation and environmental sustainability.

He said the initiative takes inspiration from Ethiopia’s acclaimed Green Legacy Programme, describing it as a benchmark for integrating climate action with economic opportunity.

Speaking on Saturday during a tour of several agricultural and industrial facilities in Ethiopia, Shettima, on a state visit, praised the country’s efforts as a success story and a guiding light for Africa’s renaissance.

“We intend to plant 20 billion trees in the next rainy season. It requires immense planning, energy, and drive, qualities Ethiopia demonstrated by mobilising its population effectively,” he said.

“I was overwhelmed with joy. The economic renaissance of Africa is clearly underway. Ethiopia has become the pathfinder, the frontrunner in reclaiming our pride and our continent. We are mightily proud of them.”

The Vice President’s itinerary included visits to Adama Dairy Farms, Luke Avocado Nursery, Shera Dibandiba Mojo Family Integrated Farm, Biyyo Poultry Farm, and Bishoftu Pea Farm. The tour underscores Nigeria’s commitment to deepening bilateral ties in agriculture and industrial development.

A highlight of the visit was the official launch of Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative, which Shettima hailed as a strategic blend of environmental recovery and job creation.

“Ethiopia is a nation of over 100 million people. Its success will resonate throughout East and Southern Africa,” he noted.

He commended Ethiopia’s achievement in attaining wheat self-sufficiency, having transitioned from importing $1 billion worth of wheat annually to exporting to countries like Djibouti and Kenya.

“If Nigeria and Ethiopia work, Africa will work. Together, we represent over 350 million people, more than the population of the United States. We must work in harmony for the betterment of our continent,” Shettima added.

Also speaking, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Agribusiness and Productivity Enhancement, Dr. Kingsley Uzoma, described the visit as “phenomenal,” reaffirming President Bola Tinubu’s resolve to replicate Ethiopia’s model of agricultural transformation.

“President Tinubu holds Ethiopia in high regard. We came here to understudy their successes and report back to him. I am confident that what we have seen will be adopted in Nigeria on an even bolder scale,” Uzoma stated.

He further noted that Nigeria is advancing its economic diversification agenda by boosting agricultural exports, such as avocados, pineapples, mangoes, cashews, and cocoa, to reduce its overdependence on oil revenues.