Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago has disclosed that the State realized N600b in agriculture and other related businesses last year through the public and private sectors.
Governor Umaru Bago disclosed this when he received members of Developing-8 (D-8) group, an intergovernmental organization at the Government House Minna that came to present a partnership proposal to the State.
Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago says the only way to sustain food security, provide employment to the youth and reduce insecurity and other social vices is to key into new techniques in crop production, irrigation farming, animal husbandry and livestock management.
The Governor who re -emphasized the enormous advantage of the State’s land mass with great potentials for agriculture and livestock said, mechanisation farming should be embraced by all in order to achieve the target of feeding the Nation.
He also disclosed to members of the Group that the State Government in collaboration with Schools through the introduction of school farms has enabled the inclusion of crop production into School syllabuses to enable Students enhance their skills development for the future.
Governor Umaru Bago said collaboration with the D-8 group, Niger State can benefit alot especially in terms of renewable energy which he described as essential for any agric development.
The Governor noted that a committee will be set up to set timeline to scale up agreement between both parties where the State will identify what it wants from the group and in what capacity the group can come in.
Earlier, in his remarks, the Secretary General, D-8, Amb. Isiaka Imam informed the Governor that the organisation is an international-based organisation in Turkey comprising Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Republic of Azerbaijan.
The effort of the Organisation he said, is to see how it can collaborate with several State Governments, Niger State inclusive and try to woo investors in some priority areas like agriculture and food security, energy, ICT, Tourism, Small Medium Enterprise and human resource.
He commended Governor Umaru Bago for his strides in human resource development and agriculture saying, there are investors willing to come to the State and collaborate with the State Government which is part of the reason why members of the organisation are in the State to work out modalities on possible partnership.
The D-8 Youth envoy to Nigeria, Sa’idu Ahmad in his remarks described the New Niger Development project of the Governor as an initiative that has made the Governor stand out among his counterparts.
He said, under the D-8 and Niger State economic diplomacy engagement, the Organisation looks forward to creating opportunity for youth in Niger State during the program with massive opportunities in SME, Education, digital and human capital transfers.
