The member representing the Bida/Gbako/Katcho constituency of Niger State in the House of Representatives, Hon. Saidu Abdullahi, has proposed a partnership with Kuwait boost agricultural and educational development in his area.
Abdullahi who sought the partnership when he visited the Kuwaiti Embassy in Abuja, emphasised that cultivating 250,000 hectares for sugar cane could generate up to $1 billion revenue for Niger State and unlock substantial economic growth.
While highlighting the state’s vast potential, the lawmaker said, Niger state spanned 76,000 square kilometers, an area larger than many countries, with over one million hectares of arable land suitable for large-scale agriculture.
“Our people are agrarian. We have vast potential for agricultural productivity,” he stated. Citing Brazil’s $50 billion revenue from sugar cane – generated through sugar production, ethanol, and biogas. We are very interested in investment in the agricultural sector,” he said.
Abdullahi also called for urgent need to support educational sector, saying over 600,000 children were currently out of school in Niger state and appealed for grants and partnerships to address these challenges and improve the state’s Human Development Index (HDI).
Acknowledging Kuwait’s past support, such as funding for Sodoma Memorial College, he expressed hope for continued assistance, potentially through scholarships for talented youth needing support to realize their potential.
Abdullahi also invited Kuwaiti officials to experience Niger’s cultural heritage, including an annual horse procession, with the aim of fostering mutual understanding and encouraging tourism and investment.
He further suggested collaboration with Kuwaiti Islamic charities to support educational and spiritual centers across Niger State’s largely Muslim communities.
Responding, the Kuwaiti Ambassador to Nigeria, Salim Almuzayen, lauded the longstanding diplomatic ties between Kuwait and Nigeria,
“You are exemplifying ‘people-to-people diplomacy,’ and it is an honor to learn more about the people of Nigeria,” he told the lawmaker.
Almuzayen acknowledged the high number of out-of-school children as a critical issue, stating Kuwait’s commitment to educational initiatives through projects such as the Kuwait Fund for Arab Development and a UNICEF programme in Kaduna, which reached 200,000 children.
He assured Abdullahi of communicating the proposal to Kuwaiti authorities for further recommendations, especially in the area of educational support.
