Gov AbdulRazaq Hosts IsDB, Others

... describes Agro-Processong Zone as engine room of agric practice

The Executive Governor of Kwara State, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq CON, today played a host to a delegation comprising Islamic Development Bank and other teams from the National Coordination Office, Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) Project and officials of Federal Ministry of Finance on a supervision mission to assess the progress of the project's implementation, to discuss challenges regarding Kwara-SAPZ Project, with a view to mapping out the way forward.

Receiving the guests at the Government House today in Ilorin, Governor AbdulRazaq identified the pivotal role of agro-processing zones in scalling up the nation's agro-system, describing agro-processing zones as the engine room of modern agricultural practice.

The Governor, who rolled out numerous benefits of the project such as water provision, electricity and educational institutions are expected to accompany the Agro-Industrial Hub when completed.

He therefore enjoined the actors to expedite the implementation, so that the project will be delivered to the masses on time.

He added that Kwara State Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) will include an Agro-Industrial Hub (AIH) and four Agricultural Transformation Centers (ATCs), which will deliver good services to the people of the state as well make a milestone in the national livestock project, to boost economy and improve livelihood.

He then urged both the IsDB and SAPZ teams to bear in mind the necessity to ensure follow-up visits to this supervision mission, adding that, with the readiness of the design and supervision consultant, the project will be a huge success.

Introducing the teams to His Excellency, the Commissioner for Livestocks Development, Honourable Oloruntoyosi Thomas, highlighted KW-SAPZ and Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (L-PRES) Project as two key livestock projects embarked upon in the state, towards livestock development, as the duo complement each other.

She noted further that implementation of SAPZ Project is expected to revolutionise agribusiness in the state, as driving beef and dairy production, will no doubt turn around socio-economic situations of the state, reiterating Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq's ingenuity to attract development through SAPZ.

The Operation Team Leader, Islamic Development Bank, Sister Saidova Masuda, noted that SAPZ in Kwara is about how beef and dairy value chain can be promoted, with a concentration on the improvement of productivity in livestock production.

While assuring the Governor of Islamic Development Bank's full support, she applauded the current administration's interest in driving development through agricultural industrialisation.

The National Programme Coordinator, Dr. Kabir Yusuf, cited the Governor's experience of agro-processing in Ethiopia and activities on ground in the state, as a pointer to commitment at driving the project in the state.

Represented by the National Infrastructure Engineer, Engr. Maruf Ajenifuja, the Coordinator stated that Kwara is taking the right steps, to improve the livestock industry in Nigeria, calling on all stakeholders to muscle up, in order to take SAPZ to greater heights.

Earlier in an Interractive session with the teams, the State Project Coordinator, Engr. Dr. Busari Isiaka Toyin, acknowledged the importance of the supervision mission, and disclosed that, the teams mission was to check the implementation trajectory so far with the aim of offering imperative dynamics, for better operational patterns.

The Coordinator, who was represented by the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Kwara SAPZ, Mr. Hamid Kunle Kareem, submitted that the supervision exercise is coming at a good time, in the implementation phase of the project, as SAPZ will hopefully reveal the beauty of Governor AbdulRazaq-led administration's vision to Kwarans, thereby craving people's support for the project.

Recall that while the Islamic Development Bank is the funder of KW-SAPZ, the project is being coordinated by the National Coordination Office, Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) Project.

The event also featured presentation on implementation of project components by Kwara SAPZ team, presentation by Transaction Advisory Firm and a review of contract award procurement plan.

Those in attendance includeed the Permanent Secretary, Kwara State Ministry of Livestocks Development, Alhaji Mohammed Yahaya; Director, Livestocks Development, Mallam Ahmed A. Umar; Project Management Specialist, Brother Irfan Khan.

Others were Field Procurement Officer, IsDB, Brother Marcel Issamba; SAPZ Programme Operation Manager, Mr. Zakari Tsiga; Dr. Abubakar Ahmed of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security; Nation Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, SAPZ , Dr. Okorie Agwu Ama and members of Project implementation Unit of Kwara-SAPZ.

Dr. Sangodare Ayinla,

KMCO,

Kwara SAPZ

07033530735