Vice President Kashim Shettima on Thursday departed Abuja for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on an official State visit at the invitation of the Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Dr. Abiy Ahmed Ali.

During the visit, the Vice President will participate in the official launch of Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Programme, a flagship environmental initiative aimed at combating deforestation, enhancing biodiversity, and addressing the impact of climate change. The programme targets the planting of 20 billion tree seedlings over four years.

In a move to strengthen bilateral cooperation in agriculture and industrial development, Vice President Shettima is also scheduled to tour several strategic sites, including the Adama Industrial Zone, Mojo Poultry Farm, Shera Dibandiba Mojo Family Integrated Farm, Lume Avocado Nursery Site, and the Bishoftu Pea Youth Farm.

The visits will provide insight into Ethiopia’s integrated agricultural systems and agro-industrial clusters, which align with Nigeria’s push for agro-industrialisation and food security under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

As part of the diplomatic engagement, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed is expected to host the Vice President and his delegation to a State Dinner at the National Palace in Addis Ababa, symbolising the enduring ties and mutual respect between both nations.

Nigeria and Ethiopia enjoy a long-standing relationship marked by cooperation in military training, regional peacekeeping, and economic development.
The Vice President’s visit is expected to deepen that relationship while exploring new areas of collaboration in climate action, sustainable agriculture, and industrial transformation.