Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Usman Ododo, has led a high-level delegation to Kuwait to attract affordable development financing, technical expertise, and strategic partnerships for the implementation of the Kogi State Development Plan 2024-2056. The mission aims to open a new development partnership between Kogi State and key Kuwaiti institutions. The delegation met with senior officials of the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) and presented Kogi's development vision.
During the meeting with KFAED, Ododo outlined the state's priority areas for international cooperation, highlighting Kogi's strategic location, extensive water resources, agricultural potential, solid minerals, and emerging energy opportunities. He emphasized that these assets could support job creation, food security, industrialization, and improved living standards with the right infrastructure and technical expertise. The governor identified areas for potential partnership, including water infrastructure, irrigation, and agricultural transformation.
KFAED expressed its readiness, in principle, to work with Kogi State on priority development projects, subject to technical, financial, and institutional appraisal processes. The proposed cooperation will focus on various sectors, including power and renewable energy, solid minerals and beneficiation, agro-industrial development, transport, communications and ICT, as well as education and healthcare. The partnership will also cover project preparation, feasibility studies, and environmental and social assessments.
Ododo explained that the areas of cooperation are interconnected, noting that improved water infrastructure would strengthen communities and agriculture, while reliable energy would support agro-processing and industrialization. He also highlighted the importance of mineral beneficiation in enabling the state to retain greater value from its natural resources. The governor's delegation also held discussions with Kuwait University on collaboration in education, research, and innovation.
The delegation met with Kuwait University's president, Prof. Dina Musaed Al-Mailem, to explore opportunities for knowledge exchange, research collaboration, and capacity development between Kuwait University and tertiary institutions in Kogi State. The two sides discussed potential partnerships in engineering, agriculture, water-resource management, and technology. This collaboration aims to enhance the state's human resources and promote sustainable development.
In addition to KFAED and Kuwait University, the delegation met with the Governor of Al Ahmadi Governorate, Sheikh Humoud Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, to explore a sister-government relationship and cooperation in infrastructure, investment, industry, and development experience. The delegation also met with Kuwait's Minister of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy, Dr Subaih Abdulaziz Al-Mukhaizeem, to discuss water infrastructure, irrigation, and renewable energy.
The development partnership between Kogi State and Kuwaiti institutions is expected to drive sustainable economic growth and improve living standards in Kogi State. The partnership will focus on implementing priority projects, with technical teams from both sides working together to prepare and appraise projects. Key areas of focus include water infrastructure, irrigation, agricultural transformation, and renewable energy.
Key points
- Kogi State and Kuwaiti institutions have agreed to a development partnership to implement the Kogi State Development Plan 2024-2056.
- The partnership will focus on water infrastructure, irrigation, agricultural transformation, power and renewable energy, and solid minerals and beneficiation.
- The collaboration will also cover education, research, and innovation between Kuwait University and tertiary institutions in Kogi State.
