,,,,,,AfDB Commends Gov. Ododo, Names Kogi Among SAPZ Beneficiary States.
By Correspondent.
The Federal Government has announced the recapitalization of the Bank of Agriculture (BOA) with ₦1.5 trillion to support youth and women-led agro-enterprises across the country, as efforts intensify to boost food security and agricultural development.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, made the disclosure during a high-level policy dialogue organized by the African Development Bank (AfDB) in Abuja.
He reiterated the government’s commitment to inclusive agribusiness development through innovative financing, capacity building, and strategic partnerships.
Kyari highlighted the importance of the AfDB’s Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) initiative in unlocking agricultural value chains and promoting sustainable food systems.
He noted that states like Kogi, which have demonstrated strong political will and clear agricultural policy direction, are well-positioned to benefit from both national and multilateral development programmes.
The minister’s remarks come as Kogi State intensifies efforts to join the next phase of the SAPZ programme, expected to commence in 2026.
Speaking at the same event, Kogi State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Hon. Timothy Ojomah, revealed that Kogi and Ogun were the only two states specially invited to the dialogue,an indication, he said, of the AfDB’s recognition of Kogi’s reform-driven agricultural agenda under Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo.
Ojomah said preliminary discussions with the AfDB have commenced, with a virtual meeting already being planned to finalize the state’s outstanding requirements for SAPZ participation. He reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to leveraging the programme to boost agro-industrial development, job creation, and rural transformation.
Also speaking at the forum, the Special Adviser to the President of the AfDB on Stakeholder Engagement, Ms. Lola Visser, praised the Kogi State Government for its strides in agricultural innovation and youth empowerment.
She emphasized the need for improved access to credit and institutional support for young agro-entrepreneurs.
According to her, while more than 200 young people have already been mentored under her initiative, access to financing remains a major obstacle, stressing that the dialogue was aimed at bridging such gaps through collaboration between development financiers and state actors.
The policy dialogue brought together key stakeholders from across Nigeria’s agricultural value chain to explore actionable solutions to financing challenges, gender inclusion, and enterprise growth in agribusiness.
Government House Media Team.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
