Kaduna State Deputy Governor Hadiza Balarabe has joined the governors of the North-West region of Nigeria at a meeting with the African Development Bank (AfDB) in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, as part of a regional effort to seek the bank’s intervention in agriculture and power.

The governors, who met with the AfDB team, led by the president, Akinwumi Adesina, presented a regional request developed by the seven states to position the region to better utilise the opportunities offered by the bank’s agro-industrial processing zones programme.

In her presentation at the meeting, Ms Balarabe assured the AfDB chief of Kaduna State’s commitment to the collective vision of the North-West region, stating that the participation of Kaduna State in the discussions underscores the critical importance of the administration of Governor Uba Sani.

She said the Kaduna state government places a premium on fostering collaborations and partnerships for the advancement of the different sectors of the economy, especially the agricultural and power sectors, which she describes as “foundational pillars of our regional growth and development”.

Ms Balarabe stated that agriculture remains the fulcrum of the governor’s development agenda.

“We are endowed with vast arable land and resources. With support from the AfDB, we aim to modernise agricultural practices, enhance value addition to our produce, and empower our farmers with the knowledge and tools needed for higher productivity,” she said.

The deputy governor further called for AfDB’s intervention in Kaduna State under the National Transmission Expansion Project to energise a two by 60MVA transmission substation for the Green Economic Zone, pointing out that Kaduna State has already conducted pre-feasibility studies for energising 5,000 off-grid communities.

She noted that a coordinated regional approach to problem-solving is paramount; working together to seek the bank’s support in developing an integrated strategy for agriculture, power, and even security is necessary for the comprehensive and sustainable development of the region. 

(NAN)