The European Union (EU) Ambassador to Nigeria, Samuela Isopi, has pledged the union’s readiness to boost bilateral relations with the Nasarawa State Government on innovation and clean energy development among others.
The EU Ambassador stated this during her official visit to Governor Abdullahi Sule in Lafia, the North Central Nasarawa capital.
She said the EU would also support the state in the areas of peace, security, agriculture human development, education, and health.
Isopi further said that they would support the state in diversifying its economy through agriculture, energy, and innovation.
She promised that they would increase investment in Nasarawa State in the areas of climate-smart agriculture to ensure food security and improve nutrition.
“We are working with other partners in some communities of the state already to support rice production, rural electrification, and renewable energy among others.
“We will visit your state again in early 2024 with a larger delegation including the private sector players for a more robust partnership,” she noted.
She explained that the visit was aimed at deepening the relationship with the state government.
“The EU has a long-standing partnership with Nigeria in the areas of democratic governance, peace and security, economy, trade, and climate change among others.
“We do not have many investments yet in Nasarawa State, but we can work together in multi-dimensional areas to support the state,“ she added.
She added that Nasarawa State is a landlord to many of their staff resident in Karu Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.
Responding, Governor Sule expressed gratitude to the EU Ambassador for the visit and her kind words on Nasarawa State.
He said that Nigeria and Europe share a lot in common, noting that there were more Nigerians in the UK and entire Europe than any part of the world outside Africa.
Sule added that Nigeria and Nasarawa State share the same values with the EU on peace and security as well as upholding the tenets of the democratic process and social cohesion.
The Governor said Nasarawa State was open to investment in agriculture, clean energy, oil and gas as well as solid mineral development with particular emphasis on lithium.
He said the state was poised to promote education, skills, and vocational education to enable the youth to become self-reliant and address unemployment.
Sule expressed delight with the Ambassador’s intention to lead an EU team from 27 countries to Nasarawa in the first quarter of 2024.
He highlighted some of the agricultural potentials in the state where investors could take advantage to invest adding that Nasarawa was number one in sesame production in the country, with a lot of investors already showing interest in sesame processing.
“By early next year, we are going to have the first same seed processing company in the state,“ he said.
Sule said the state was looking at exploring the complete value chain in yam production as well as the improvement in rice production where the state currently occupied the fifth position to become one of the top three producers in the country.
He also mentioned the potential in Cassava and sugar cane production with the Dangote Sugar company coming on board, to attract investors’ interest in ethanol production for energy generation.
The Governor explained that the state government, through the Nasarawa State Investment Development Agency (NASIDA), is offering a one-stop-shop for investors where they would be provided with incentives and guided through all necessary processes that would guarantee their investment.
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