Obasanjo, 20 Govs To Attend Workshop On Kano’s $19.3m Agro Project

Kano State is set to host a high-profile workshop on agricultural transformation, with former President Olusegun Obasanjo expected to chair the event.

The workshop, which will be held on October 7 and 8, 2024, will bring together about 20 state governors, representatives from 10 African countries, officials from the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Headquarters in Jeddah, and the leadership of Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) from Tokyo and the USA.

In a statement signed by SAA’s Communication Officer, Mr. Moses Nongoatse, it was revealed that the workshop will focus on the IsDB-funded Kano State Agropastoral Development Project (KSADP), highlighting its success and exploring ways to replicate the initiative in other states. The theme of the workshop is “Agricultural Transformation and What Works: Reflections from the Crop Value Chain of the Kano State Agropastoral Development Project (KSADP).”

The statement further noted that the workshop, a collaboration between the IsDB and the Kano State government, aims to foster discussions on sustainable agricultural development across Nigeria. SAA Nigeria Country Director, Dr. Godwin Atser, emphasized the importance of the workshop in showcasing KSADP’s achievements and providing networking opportunities for state governors to explore IsDB funding for agricultural initiatives in their regions.

“In the past three years, KSADP has strategically positioned Kano on the path to sustainable agricultural growth with significant investments in climate-smart agriculture, livestock and dam development, post-harvest loss reduction, employment, poverty alleviation, and infrastructure developments,” Dr. Atser said.

The two-day event will also witness the launch of a large-scale mechanization support initiative aimed at boosting productivity for Kano’s farmers. Additionally, IsDB officials will provide insights into how the state accessed financing for agricultural development. It is noteworthy that SAA is implementing the crop value chain component of the KSADP through a $19.3 million sub-grant, offering technical support to enhance agricultural productivity and competitiveness.

Kano State governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, is expected to host Obasanjo and governors from several states, including Jigawa, Kaduna, Kwara, Kogi, Oyo, Ogun, Enugu, Cross River, Benue, Gombe, Yobe, Zamfara, Niger, Katsina, and Akwa Ibom. Representatives from various Federal Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) will also be in attendance.