Olu Samuel
Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, FCA, has led a high-level delegation of the State Government to Kuwait in a major push to attract affordable development financing, technical expertise and strategic partnerships for the implementation of the Kogi State Development Plan 2024–2056.
This was contained in a statement issued in the early hours of Wednesday in Lokoja by the Commissioner for information and communication, Kingsley Fanwo.
He said that the mission has opened a new development partnership between Kogi State and key Kuwaiti institutions, with technical teams now expected to move from high-level engagements to the preparation of priority projects for implementation.
At the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED), Governor Ododo and his delegation met with the Acting Director-General, Mr. Rashaid A. Al-Bader, and senior officials of the Fund, where the Governor presented Kogi’s development vision and outlined the State’s priority areas for international cooperation.
Governor Ododo said Kogi was seeking a comprehensive, long-term development partnership capable of transforming the State’s natural and human resources into sustainable economic opportunities.
He identified Kogi’s strategic location, extensive water resources, agricultural potential, solid minerals and emerging energy opportunities as assets that could support job creation, food security, industrialisation and improved living standards when backed by the right infrastructure and technical expertise.
The Kuwait Fund expressed readiness, in principle, to work with Kogi State on priority development projects, subject to the required technical, financial and institutional appraisal processes.
“The emerging partnership will focus on water infrastructure, irrigation and agricultural transformation, power and renewable energy, solid minerals and beneficiation, agro-industrial development, transport, communications and ICT, education and healthcare.”
He said that the proposed cooperation will also cover project preparation, feasibility studies, engineering designs, technical assistance, institutional capacity development and environmental and social assessments.
Governor Ododo explained that the areas were interconnected, noting that improved water infrastructure would strengthen communities and agriculture, irrigation would expand all-season farming, reliable energy would support agro-processing and industrialisation, while mineral beneficiation would enable Kogi to retain greater value from its natural resources.
“Beyond development financing, the Governor and his delegation held discussions with Kuwait University on collaboration in education, research, innovation, engineering, agriculture, water-resource management and technology.”
At the university, Governor Ododo met with its President, Prof. Dina Musaed Al-Mailem, with both sides exploring opportunities for knowledge exchange, research collaboration and capacity development between Kuwait University and tertiary institutions in Kogi State.
The commissioner said that the delegation also met with the Governor of Al Ahmadi Governorate, His Excellency Sheikh Humoud Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, to explore a sister-government relationship and cooperation in infrastructure, investment, industry and development experience.
In another major engagement, the delegation met with Kuwait’s Minister of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy, Dr. Subaih Abdulaziz Al-Mukhaizeem, to discuss water infrastructure, irrigation, renewable energy, power development and technical cooperation.
The discussions are particularly relevant to Kogi’s plans to expand irrigation, promote all-season agriculture, develop agro-processing and establish reliable energy infrastructure to support industrial growth.
The mission also opened discussions around commerce, investment, industrial cooperation and value addition, with the State seeking stronger economic linkages between Kogi and Kuwaiti businesses and institutions.
A major outcome of the visit is the establishment of a technical process to drive the agreements and understandings reached during the engagements. The teams will undertake project documentation, feasibility and technical assessments and other preparatory work required to translate the discussions into concrete development projects.
Members of the Governor’s delegation included the Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Asiwaju Asiru Idris, FCA; Commissioner for Works, Hon. Momoh Ozigi Deedat; Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Hon. Timothy Ojomah; Commissioner for Water Resources, Hon. Farouk Danlami; State Auditor-General, Hon. Yakubu Yusuf Okala; and Chief Economic Adviser to the Governor, Hon. Nda Salami.
Governor Ododo expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for the Federal Government’s diplomatic support and enabling environment for subnational governments to engage development and investment partners internationally.
He also commended the Nigerian Embassy in Kuwait, led by Ambassador (Dr.) Abubakar Sanusi Aliyu, for facilitating and supporting the engagements.
The Governor said the Kuwait mission represents a transition from high-level discussions to detailed technical work aimed at developing sustainable partnerships that will help Kogi unlock its potential in water, agriculture and irrigation, energy, education and research, solid minerals, commerce and industrial development.