Kaduna, April 8, 2025 (NAN) – Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), has announced that Kaduna State is the first in Nigeria to launch the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ), marking a significant milestone in the country’s agricultural transformation.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Adesina made this declaration during a courtesy visit to Sir Kashim Ibrahim House in Kaduna, where he commended Governor Uba Sani for his leadership and commitment to driving agricultural growth. He highlighted the state’s substantial increase in the agricultural budget—from N1.4 billion in 2023 to N74 billion in the current year—as a testament to the state’s political will and financial investment in agriculture.
“You didn’t just put your money where your mouth is—you put your money where your mind and your body are,” Adesina said, drawing applause from the dignitaries and stakeholders present.
The AfDB president described the state’s leadership as exemplary, stating, “Kaduna is a trailblazer and a model for the country. You are the first state to launch the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone in Nigeria. This is a great day for us all.”
Adesina also expressed gratitude for the hospitality extended to the AfDB delegation, mentioning the Deputy Governor’s background in medicine, and emphasized the bank’s commitment to supporting Kaduna in expanding its school feeding program, improving primary healthcare, and enhancing infrastructure, including water, sanitation, and digitalization.
In response, Governor Uba Sani praised Adesina for his transformative work in agriculture across Africa and for his significant impact on Nigeria. Sani reflected on his past experience as Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture, citing the success of his E-wallet initiative, which reached over 15 million smallholder farmers, especially in Northern Nigeria. He noted that the initiative not only aimed to revolutionize agriculture but could also have addressed challenges related to financial inclusion and insecurity in the region.
Sani also explained that agriculture contributes about 42% of Kaduna’s GDP and accounts for approximately 60% of employment, making it a key sector for the state’s development. He attributed some of the challenges in the agricultural sector to insecurity and highlighted that the state’s commitment to agriculture is reflected in its 10% allocation of the budget to the sector, meeting the Malabo Declaration’s target.
“This is why we believe insecurity has hindered much of the development we could have achieved through agriculture,” Sani said, underscoring the importance of investing in the agricultural sector for economic prosperity.
The launch of the SAPZ in Kaduna is expected to drive food security, create jobs, and foster inclusive economic growth, serving as a model for other states in Nigeria and across Africa.
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