FROM RAHILA ABDULLAHI, KADUNA
President of African Development Bank, AfDB, Dr Akinwumi Adesina has disclosed that Kaduna State is the first to launch the Special Agro-industrial Processing Zone, SAPZ, in Nigeria.
Speaking when he paid a courtesy call at the Government House, Kaduna, Tuesday, Dr Adesina praised Governor Uba Sani’s commitment to agricultural transformation.
The AfDB president cited the state’s remarkable budgetary increase for agriculture, from N1.4 billion to N74 billion, adding that the increase is an example of political will backed by substantial investment.
“You did not just put your money where your mouth is—you put your money where your mind and your body are,” Adesina remarked, drawing applause from stakeholders and dignitaries present.
“Kaduna’s leadership on this project reflects not just a vision for food security, but a roadmap for economic prosperity and inclusive development,” Adesina said, describing the state as a trailblazer.
Commending the state’s hospitality, Adesina emphasised AfDB’s commitment to support Kaduna State in expanding the school feeding programme and integrate them with the new processing zones.
He also pledged additional support for primary health care, health insurance and infrastructure, including water, sanitation and digitalisation.
In his remarks, Governor Sani described Adesina as a blessing to Nigeria, Africa and humanity, just as he lauded the AfDB president’s transformative work in agriculture across the continent.
He said his initiative when he was minister of agriculture had benefited more than 15 million smallholder farmers across Nigeria, mostly in Northern Nigeria, through his e-wallet initiative.
The governor described the launch of the Agro-Industrial Processing Zone as a very important project for Kaduna State.
Sani also commended Adesina for his efforts in transforming agriculture in Nigeria and across Africa.
