Abuja, Nigeria – Kogi State has initiated discussions with the Nigerian Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) to forge a strategic partnership aimed at significantly enhancing agribusiness and attracting international investment into the state’s agriculture and food security sectors. This development was announced by the Kogi State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Timothy Ojoma, who led a delegation to NIRSAL’s headquarters in Abuja on Monday. Repositioning Kogi as an Agricultural HubDuring the visit, Mr. Ojoma stated that the discussions sought to identify areas of collaboration consistent with Governor Ahmed Ododo’s development agenda. The governor aims to reposition Kogi as Nigeria’s leading agricultural hub through policies prioritising food sufficiency, commercial farming, and agro-processing. Mr. Ojoma highlighted the state administration’s recent proactive steps, including investment-focused delegations to Abidjan and China, all geared towards building partnerships to scale up agricultural production and value addition.
“The Governor is determined to position Kogi as a key player in Nigeria’s agricultural revolution. We are focusing on turning agriculture into a business and creating the enabling environment for investment,” he remarked.
NIRSAL Commends Kogi’s Commitment
Suleiman Ibrahim, NIRSAL’s Assistant General Manager for Business Development (Northern Region), described the meeting as both productive and timely. He commended the Kogi State Government for its investment in agriculture, specifically noting the state’s Special Agro-Processing Zone as a critical entry point for targeted agricultural interventions.”Kogi is rich in resources and already showing commitment through its Special Agro-Processing Zone. Once we optimise production and processing, we unlock real value,” Ibrahim stated. He further disclosed that NIRSAL awaits a formal proposal from the Kogi State government. This proposal will trigger crucial steps such as capacity building, data collation, and other necessary measures to unlock funding and investment into the agricultural sector. Mr. Ibrahim expressed confidence in the vision and structure of the Ododo administration, assuring the Commissioner of NIRSAL’s readiness to collaborate for the benefit of Kogi State’s residents. “We see a serious team, and we are committed to working together to deliver real, measurable impact in the agricultural sector,” he added.
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