The North West Development Commission over the weekend began the process for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Agriculture Development and Commercial farming in the region that would see a massive investment worth $200 million.
The Tripartite partnership between the commission and Shanghai Integrated Infrastructure Development Limited and Pearless Advisory Limited aimed at transforming the entire agriculture value chain in the region by empowering local farmers with modern technologies that would boost their yields.
It would also stimulate the growth of the livestock sector which would see Nigeria becoming a major player in livestock production in the globe.
Speaking during the presentation of the MoU document at the commission’s office in Abuja, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the North West Development Commission, Professor Shehu Abdullahi Ma’aji noted that the initiative was in furtherance of the directive of President Bola Tinubu to ensure the development of the region’s potential.
“By design the President has given us a mandate to unlock the opportunities in agriculture, in totality. In fact, because of his passion for agriculture, he established a ministry for livestock, and we are having a lot of initiatives, partnering with the livestock ministry, most especially in the Northwest region, where we have a lot of cattle for rearing,” Prof. Ma’aji said.
He noted that the North West Development Commission was determined to ensure that it unlocked the agricultural potential in the region by strengthening collaboration with development partners.
He said, “We want to unlock the potential opportunities we have in the region. So the North West Development Commission is pleased to announce its commitment in partnering with Shanghai. Shanghai is coming with a volume of money to invest in agriculture and agricultural sectors in general, to add value to all sectors of agriculture. Talk less of livestock, where we appreciate His Excellency, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Ahmed Tinubu, in looking at the North West, and said, ‘Don’t waste your cattle. Take them to the best way you can add value to them’.”
According to Professor Ma’aji, the target of the North West Development Commission is to ensure that the people in the region benefit from the efforts of the Federal government at enhancing their livelihood and better their fortune.
“We have a population of about 50 million in the Northwest, and we have seven states, and we have about 7 million youths roaming about the street. So, we want to convert them into wealth using agricultural extension workers, by providing them with skills in agric activities,” he added.
On his part, the Managing Partner, Pearless Advisory Limited, Kunle Dawodu commended the commission for opening its doors for partnership.
He said, as partners, both Shanghai and Pearless would ensure that they deliver on their terms of the MoU.
