Kwara state: 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.
According to Voice of Nigeria, Governor AbdulRazaq highlighted the numerous benefits of the project, such as water provision, electricity, and educational institutions, which are expected to accompany the Agro-Industrial Hub upon completion. He urged the stakeholders to expedite the implementation to deliver the project to the masses promptly. The Governor emphasized that the Kwara State Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) would include an Agro-Industrial Hub (AIH) and four Agricultural Transformation Centres (ATCs), which are designed to enhance services to the people and contribute significantly to the national livestock project, thereby boosting the economy and improving livelihoods.
Governor AbdulRazaq encouraged both the Islamic Development Bank and SAPZ teams to consider follow-up visits to this supervision mission. With the design and supervision consultant’s readiness, he expressed confidence in the project’s success. The Commissioner for Livestock Development, Oloruntoyosi Thomas, introduced the delegation, noting the complementary nature of the KW-SAPZ and Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (L-PRES) projects, both aimed at driving livestock development in the state.
Sister Saidova Masuda, the Operation Team Leader from the Islamic Development Bank, noted the focus of SAPZ in Kwara on promoting the beef and dairy value chain, with an emphasis on improving livestock productivity. She assured the Governor of the bank’s full support and acknowledged the administration’s commitment to driving development through agricultural industrialization.
Dr. Kabir Yusuf, the National Programme Coordinator, highlighted the Governor’s experience in agro-processing and the activities underway in Kwara as evidence of commitment to the project. Represented by the National Infrastructure Engineer, Maruf Ajenifuja, Yusuf called on stakeholders to elevate SAPZ to new heights.
In an interactive session, the State Project Coordinator, Dr. Busari Toyin, acknowledged the supervision mission’s significance in assessing the project’s implementation trajectory. Represented by Mr. Hamid Kareem, the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer of Kwara SAPZ, Toyin emphasized the timely nature of the supervision exercise in the project’s implementation phase.
The event also featured presentations on the implementation of project components by the Kwara SAPZ team, a presentation by the Transaction Advisory Firm, and a review of the contract award procurement plan. Attendees included key officials from the Kwara State Ministry of Livestock Development and representatives from various organizations involved in the project.