Kogi Secures Kuwait Partnership on Development Projects

Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has led a high-level delegation to Kuwait as part of efforts to attract affordable development financing, technical expertise and strategic partnerships for projects under the state’s 2024-2056 Development Plan.

The visit has opened a development partnership between Kogi State and key Kuwaiti institutions, with technical teams expected to begin work on priority projects, according to a statement by the Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo.

During a meeting with the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED), Ododo and his delegation met with the Acting Director-General, Rashaid A. Al-Bader, and senior officials of the Fund.

The governor presented Kogi’s development priorities and said the state was seeking a long-term partnership that would help transform its natural and human resources into sustainable economic opportunities.

Ododo identified Kogi’s strategic location, water resources, agricultural potential, solid minerals and emerging energy opportunities as key assets that could support job creation, food security, industrialisation and improved living standards when backed by appropriate infrastructure and technical expertise.

The Kuwait Fund expressed readiness in principle to work with Kogi State on priority development projects, subject to the required technical, financial and institutional appraisal processes.

The proposed areas of cooperation include water infrastructure, irrigation and agricultural development, power and renewable energy, solid minerals and beneficiation, agro-industrial development, transport, communications and ICT, education and healthcare.

The cooperation will also cover project preparation, feasibility studies, engineering designs, technical assistance, institutional capacity development, as well as environmental and social assessments.

Ododo said the sectors were interconnected, noting that improved water infrastructure would strengthen communities and agriculture, irrigation would support year-round farming, reliable energy would aid agro-processing and industrialisation, while mineral beneficiation would allow Kogi to retain more value from its natural resources.

Beyond development financing, the delegation held discussions with Kuwait University on potential collaboration in education, research, innovation, engineering, agriculture, water-resource management and technology.

At the university, Ododo met with its President, Prof. Dina Musaed Al-Mailem, with both sides exploring opportunities for knowledge exchange, research collaboration and capacity development between Kuwait University and tertiary institutions in Kogi State.

The delegation also met with the Governor of Al Ahmadi Governorate, Sheikh Humoud Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, to discuss a possible sister-government relationship and cooperation in infrastructure, investment, industry and development.

In another engagement, the delegation met Kuwait’s Minister of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy, Dr Subaih Abdulaziz Al-Mukhaizeem, to discuss water infrastructure, irrigation, renewable energy, power development and technical cooperation.

The discussions are expected to support Kogi’s plans to expand irrigation, promote year-round agriculture, develop agro-processing and establish reliable energy infrastructure for industrial growth.

The mission also opened discussions on commerce, investment, industrial cooperation and value addition, with the state seeking stronger economic links between Kogi and Kuwaiti businesses and institutions.

A technical process has now been established to advance the agreements and understandings reached during the engagements. The teams will undertake project documentation, feasibility and technical assessments and other preparatory work needed to translate the discussions into development projects.

Members of the delegation included the Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Asiwaju Asiru Idris; Commissioner for Works, Momoh Ozigi Deedat; Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Timothy Ojomah; Commissioner for Water Resources, Farouk Danlami; State Auditor-General, Yakubu Yusuf Okala; and Chief Economic Adviser to the Governor, Nda Salami.

Ododo expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for the Government’s diplomatic support and the enabling environment for subnational governments to engage international development and investment partners.

He also commended the Nigerian Embassy in Kuwait, led by Ambassador Abubakar Sanusi Aliyu, for facilitating and supporting the engagements.

The governor said the Kuwait mission marked a transition from high-level discussions to detailed technical work aimed at developing sustainable partnerships to support Kogi’s priorities in water, agriculture and irrigation, energy, education and research, solid minerals, commerce and industrial development.