Kuwait Kogi Partnership: Ododo Seeks Development Financing »

Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, has led a high-level delegation to Kuwait to seek development financing, technical expertise and strategic partnerships for projects under the Kogi State Development Plan 2024–2056.

The visit has resulted in the opening of a development partnership process between Kogi State and key Kuwaiti institutions, with technical teams expected to begin project documentation, feasibility studies and other preparatory work.

At the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED), Ododo met with the Acting Director-General, Rashaid A. Al-Bader, and senior officials of the fund, where he presented Kogi’s development priorities and outlined areas for international cooperation.

According to the statement by the Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, the Kuwait Fund expressed readiness in principle to work with Kogi on priority projects, subject to technical, financial and institutional appraisal processes.

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

The partnership discussions are also expected to cover project preparation, feasibility studies, engineering designs, technical assistance, institutional capacity development, and environmental and social assessments.

Ododo said Kogi was seeking a comprehensive, long-term development partnership capable of converting the state’s natural and human resources into sustainable economic opportunities.

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

The governor said the different areas of cooperation were interconnected, noting that improved water infrastructure would support communities and agriculture, irrigation would expand all-season farming, while reliable energy would strengthen agro-processing and industrialisation.

He also linked mineral beneficiation to the state’s objective of retaining greater value from its natural resources.

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

At the university, Ododo met 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 the Governor of Al Ahmadi Governorate, Sheikh Humoud Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, to explore a possible sister-government relationship and cooperation in infrastructure, investment, industry and development experience.

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 relevant to Kogi’s plans to expand irrigation, promote all-season agriculture, develop agro-processing and establish reliable energy infrastructure to support industrial activity.

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

A key outcome of the visit, according to the state government, is the establishment of a technical process to advance the agreements and understandings reached during the engagements.

The technical teams are expected to undertake project documentation, feasibility and technical assessments and other preparatory activities required 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, Hon. Momoh Ozigi Deedat; Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Hon. Timothy Ojomah; Commissioner for Water Resources, Hon. Farouk Danlami; State Auditor-General, Hon. Yakubu Yusuf Okala; and Chief Economic Adviser to the Governor, Hon. Nda Salami.

Ododo expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what he described as the Federal Government’s diplomatic support and enabling environment for subnational governments to engage development and investment partners internationally.

He also commended the Nigerian Embassy in Kuwait, led by Ambassador Dr 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 partnerships in water, agriculture and irrigation, energy, education and research, solid minerals, commerce and industrial development.