The Kwara State Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has received a delegation from the Islamic Development Bank, the National Coordination Office of the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) Project, and officials of the Federal Ministry of Finance on a supervision mission.
The visit was aimed at assessing progress on the Kwara-SAPZ Project and addressing challenges to ensure effective implementation and sustainability
Governor AbdulRazaq, who rolled out numerous benefits of the project such as water provision, electricity and educational institutions are expected to accompany the Agro-Industrial Hub when completed.
He therefore enjoined the actors “to expedite the implementation so that the project will be delivered to the masses on time.”
Governor AbdulRazaq said that “Kwara State Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) will include an Agro-Industrial Hub (AIH) and four Agricultural Transformation Centres (ATCs), which will deliver good services to the people of the state as well make a milestone in the national livestock project, to boost economy and improve livelihood.”
The Governor urged both the IsDB and SAPZ teams to bear in mind the necessity to ensure follow-up visits to this supervision mission, adding that, with the readiness of the design and supervision consultant, the project would be a huge success.
Introducing the delegation to the Governor, the Commissioner for Livestock Development, Oloruntoyosi Thomas, explained that the KW-SAPZ and the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (L-PRES) projects are two major initiatives undertaken in the state to drive livestock development, noting that both complement each other.
She further noted that the implementation of the SAPZ Project is expected to revolutionise agribusiness in the state by boosting beef and dairy production, which will significantly improve the socio-economic situation. Thomas also reiterated Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s commitment to attracting development through the initiative.
The Operation Team Leader, Islamic Development Bank, Sister Saidova Masuda, noted that SAPZ in Kwara is about how beef and dairy value chain can be promoted, with a concentration on the improvement of productivity in livestock production.
Driving development
While assuring the Governor of Islamic Development Bank’s full support, she applauded the current administration’s interest in driving development through agricultural industrialisation.
The National Programme Coordinator, Dr. Kabir Yusuf, cited the Governor’s experience of agro-processing in Ethiopia and activities on ground in the state, as a pointer to commitment at driving the project in the state.
Represented by the National Infrastructure Engineer, Maruf Ajenifuja, the Coordinator stated that “Kwara is taking the right steps, to improve the livestock industry in Nigeria, calling on all stakeholders to muscle up, in order to take SAPZ to greater heights.”
In an Interactive session with the teams, the State Project Coordinator, Dr. Busari Toyin, acknowledged the importance of the supervision mission.
Toyin disclosed that the teams mission was to check the implementation trajectory so far with the aim of offering imperative dynamics, for better operational patterns.
The Coordinator, who was represented by the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Kwara SAPZ, Mr. Hamid Kareem agreed that the supervision exercise is coming at a good time, in the implementation phase of the project, as SAPZ will hopefully reveal the beauty of Governor AbdulRazaq-led administration’s vision to the people of Kwara.
The Islamic Development Bank is the funder of KW-SAPZ, the project is being coordinated by the National Coordination Office, Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) Project.
The event also featured presentation on implementation of project components by Kwara SAPZ team, presentation by Transaction Advisory Firm and a review of contract award procurement plan.
Those in attendance included the Permanent Secretary, Kwara State Ministry of Livestocks Development, Alhaji Mohammed Yahaya; Director, Livestocks Development, Mallam Ahmed A. Umar; Project Management Specialist, Brother Irfan Khan.
Others were Field Procurement Officer, IsDB, Brother Marcel Issamba; SAPZ Programme Operation Manager, Mr. Zakari Tsiga; Dr. Abubakar Ahmed of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security; Nation Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, SAPZ , Dr. Okorie Agwu Ama and members of Project implementation Unit of Kwara-SAPZ.
Lateefah Ibrahim