In a move to tackle desertification, promote sustainable land use, and enhance agricultural productivity, the Federal Government of Nigeria has announced plans to collaborate with the United Kingdom’s Zander Corporation.
Eko Hot Blog gathered that the partnership was confirmed during a meeting between Vice President Kashim Shettima and the management of Zander Corporation, led by Lord Raymond Benedict Asquith, the 3rd Earl of Oxford and Asquith OBE, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Shettima highlighted the government’s commitment to afforestation as a key strategy to address environmental challenges and foster long-term agricultural growth.
He emphasized the importance of innovative technologies in combating desertification and transforming Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
“There is a critical intersection between innovative technology and efforts at combating desertification and agricultural transformation in this country.
“As a nation committed to afforestation and sustainable land use, we recognise the value of partnerships that introduce cutting-edge technologies like those from Zander Corporation,” Shettima stated.
In a significant contribution to the partnership, Zander Corporation donated £250,000 worth of afforestation technology products to Nigeria.
The donation, announced by Vice President Kashim Shettima’s spokesman Stanley Nkeocha, will support the collaboration’s goals of combating desertification and improving agricultural practices in the country’s most vulnerable ecological zones.
Shettima acknowledged the potential of the five-hectare pilot project and proposed diversifying into vegetable production and tree crops like cashew, which boasts a high global demand.
“We are in a unique position to take advantage of this opportunity. I want to assure you and your team of the federal government’s support.
Sokoto State has already demonstrated commitment, and I believe that Borno and Katsina governments will also embrace this initiative,” the Vice President said.
Shettima acknowledged Lord Oxford’s commitment to training Nigerian agronomists in best practices for implementing the technology, adding that “there is an incestuous relationship between ecology and economy in the northern part of this country. This innovative technology by Zander Corporation can be our saving grace.”
Earlier in his remarks Lord Oxford, reaffirmed the company’s long-standing dedication to Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
He highlighted the corporation’s 12-year presence in the country, emphasizing their ongoing commitment to supporting Nigeria’s agricultural transformation..
“We have made a donation of our products to Nigeria for deployment in several northern states to demonstrate our capabilities and the remarkable results that can be achieved in agricultural and environmental projects,” he said.
He highlighted the corporation’s achievements in countries such as Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Libya, and Southern Spain, where the technology has significantly reduced irrigation costs and established sustainable vegetation.
Lord Oxford stated: “We see Nigeria as a prime location for our work. The country is ready for the kind of results we have delivered elsewhere.
Our operations in the Middle East and North Africa have proven effective in reducing irrigation costs and enhancing agricultural sustainability.
“We also see opportunities for manufacturing our products in Nigeria, reducing costs, and creating employment.
Nigeria’s vast land resources make it an ideal location for this kind of investment. We are excited about the potential of this partnership to transform the landscape and the economy.”
Saleh Abubakar, Director-General of the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW), affirmed the agency’s dedication to implementing Zander Corporation’s technology as part of the partnership between Nigeria and the UK-based biotechnology company.
“We have established a committee to oversee the implementation of these products, which have proven highly effective in building resilience during the pilot programme.
“We are piloting this project in Katsina, Borno, and Sokoto states, with five hectares of land already prepared for deployment. We are committed to ensuring that the initiative directly.
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