Nigeria Partners with UK Bio-Tech Firm to Combat Desertification, Vice President Shettima Welcomes £250,000 Technology Donation
Nigeria has officially announced a partnership with Zander Corporation, a leading biotechnology company from the United Kingdom, aimed at transforming agricultural practices and restoring degraded lands in the country’s most vulnerable ecological zones.
The announcement was made 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, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Thursday. The collaboration will focus on leveraging innovative technologies to drive afforestation and combat desertification across Nigeria, particularly in the northern regions.
In his remarks, Vice President Shettima reiterated the federal government’s commitment to afforestation as a key strategy in promoting sustainable land use, tackling desertification, and ensuring long-term agricultural productivity in Nigeria.
“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 recognize the value of partnerships that introduce cutting-edge technologies like those from Zander Corporation,” Shettima stated.
As part of the collaboration, Zander Corporation has donated £250,000 worth of afforestation technology products to Nigeria. These products will be deployed in several northern states to demonstrate their effectiveness in transforming agricultural practices and promoting environmental sustainability.
VP Shettima also highlighted the potential of a five-hectare pilot project, suggesting that it could be expanded to include the production of vegetables and tree crops such as cashew, which is in high demand globally.
“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,” he said.
Lord Oxford, reaffirming Zander Corporation’s commitment to Nigeria’s agricultural transformation, shared the company’s experiences in desert regions like Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Libya, and Southern Spain, where its technology has significantly reduced irrigation costs and fostered sustainable vegetation in arid environments.
"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, which will reduce costs and create jobs," Lord Oxford said.
The partnership is expected to transform Nigeria’s agricultural landscape, with the potential to create jobs, boost local economies, and improve environmental resilience. The Director-General of the National Agency for the Great Green Wall, Saleh Abubakar, confirmed that the agency had already set up a committee to oversee the implementation of Zander Corporation’s technology.
“The pilot project is already underway in Katsina, Borno, and Sokoto states, where five hectares of land have been prepared for the deployment of these products. We are committed to ensuring that this initiative directly benefits communities affected by desertification,” Abubakar said.
The meeting was attended by several prominent officials, including the Deputy Governor of Sokoto State, Dr. Idris Muhammad Gobir; a representative of the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal; and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Agribusinesses and Productivity Enhancement, Dr. Kingsley Uzoma, among others.
This partnership marks a significant step toward Nigeria's efforts to combat desertification, restore degraded lands, and improve agricultural practices, with innovative technology playing a central role in driving sustainable change.
