Seven State governors from the North-West geo-political zone are set to embark on a journey to Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, in a bid to harness the potential of the Special Agro-Industrialisation Programme.
A statement released by the spokesperson for the Zamfara Governor, Sulaiman Idris, yesterday, noted that the State Governors will be going to Abidjan to explore the opportunities offered by the Agro-Industrial Processing Zones programme.
The State governors are expected to have departed Nigeria yesterday.
Idris also stated that the governors are scheduled to meet with the President of the African Development Bank, (AfDB), Dr. Akinwumi Adesina. The seven governors are of Zamfara, Sokoto, Jigawa, Kaduna, Katsina, Kano, and Kebbi States.
The statement said: “The meeting is scheduled for November 16, 2023, and will include presentations and briefings on utilising the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones programme, (SAPZs). The Special Agro-Industrialisation Programme aims to achieve food self-sufficiency, create jobs and boost economic growth by processing raw agricultural commodities in areas with high potential.
“Vice-President of Agriculture, Human and Social Development at the AfDB, Dr. Beth Dunford, will guide the Governors on the SAPZs, and what States must do to benefit from the programme. Senior Special Adviser to the AfDB President on Industrialisation, Prof. Oyebanji Oyelaran-Oyeyinka, will also brief the Governors on Phase-I and Phase-II of the programme and guide for optimising the initiative by States”.
