North West govs head to Abidjan, to meet AfDB president… 

Seven governors from the North West are set to embark on a journey to Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, in a bid to harness the potential of the Special Agro-Industrialisation Programme.

The governors are expected to depart Nigeria on Wednesday (today).

A statement released by the a spokesperson for the Zamfara Governor, Sulaiman Idris, on Wednesday noted that the governors will be going to Abidjan to explore the opportunities offered by the Agro-Industrial Processing Zones programme.

Idris also stated that the governors are scheduled to meet with the President of the African Development Bank, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina.

The seven governors are of Zamfara, Sokoto, Jigawa, Kaduna, Katsina, Kano, and Kebbi states.

The Special Agro-Industrialisation Programme aims to achieve food self-sufficiency, create jobs and boost economic growth by processing raw agricultural commodities in areas with high potential.

Dr. Beth Dunford, Vice President of Agriculture, Human and Social Development at the African Development Bank, will guide the Governors on the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZs) and what states must do to benefit from the programme

Prof. Oyebanji Oyelaran-Oyeyinka, Senior Special Adviser to the AfDB President on Industrialization, will also brief the Governors on Phase I and Phase II of the program and guide for optimising the initiative by states.