By Ayodele Oni
Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, is in Kuwait, leading a delegation of the State Government, 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.
The state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo
who disclosed this in statement on Wednesday, stated 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.
According to him, “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 explained that 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.
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 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.
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