The State of Israel has disclosed that it is deepening its agricultural cooperation with Nigeria, revealing that Israeli technology and seedlings are already being used by Nigerian farmers to improve food production across the country.
Speaking at the celebration of Israel’s 78th Independence Anniversary in Abuja on Monday night, the Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Freeman, said Israeli companies were actively operating in Nigeria and contributing to the agricultural sector through innovative technologies and improved seedlings.
According to Freeman, the vegetables distributed to guests at the event were grown from Israeli seedlings using Israeli technology, but cultivated by Nigerian farmers on Nigerian soil.
“As you leave this evening, you will receive a box of vegetables. These vegetables were grown from Israeli seedlings using Israeli technology but grown by Nigerian farmers on Nigerian soil,” he said.
The ambassador described the initiative as a demonstration of the possibilities that stronger agricultural cooperation could bring to Nigeria, including increased crop yields, enhanced food security and improved livelihoods for rural communities.
“Imagine that success multiplied across Nigeria. Higher yields, stronger rural communities, greater food security and millions upon millions of lives improved,” Freeman stated.
He noted that cooperation between Israel and Nigeria was expanding beyond agriculture to include innovation, healthcare, security, education and skills development, stressing that such efforts were investments in a shared future rather than acts of charity.
Freeman also announced that Israel would launch a fifth cohort of its entrepreneurship programme in 2027 and donate three fully equipped ambulances to Nigeria.
“I’m pleased to announce tonight that we are committing to a fifth cohort of the programme for 2027. Today, I’m also pleased to announce that the first three fully equipped ambulances donated by Israel are on their way to Nigeria,” he said.
The envoy explained that the ambulances would help strengthen emergency healthcare services while symbolising the growing partnership between both nations.
Highlighting Israel’s development journey, Freeman said the country transformed itself from a resource-constrained nation into a global technology hub by turning challenges into opportunities.
“For 78 years, Israel has been making miracles happen, transforming deserts into farmland, scarcity into abundance, ideas into technologies and challenges into opportunities,” he said.
He cited Israel’s achievements in drip irrigation, precision agriculture, water desalination, medicine, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and innovation, noting that these advancements were driven by necessity and determination.
Freeman further expressed confidence in Nigeria’s future, pointing to the country’s youthful population, entrepreneurial spirit and vast agricultural resources as key strengths that could drive greater prosperity through enhanced collaboration.
He added that the Israel-supported IFARE programme had continued to empower young Nigerian entrepreneurs through mentorship and business development initiatives.
Also speaking at the event, Nigeria’s Minister of Art, Culture and Tourism, congratulated Israel on its 78th Independence Anniversary and reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations.
Musawa described the relationship between Nigeria and as one built on cooperation, economic transformation, partnership and shared values.
She said Nigeria was eager to deepen collaboration with Israel in areas such as culture, tourism, agriculture, innovation and the creative economy, adding that cultural diplomacy remained a powerful tool for promoting education, economic growth and stronger people-to-people ties.
“While our nations are separated by geography, we are united by a rich tapestry of cultural diversity and interdependent energy,” the minister said.