Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, has led a high-level delegation to Kuwait to explore development financing, technical partnerships and investment opportunities for priority projects under the Kogi State Development Plan 2024–2056.
The mission has opened engagements with key Kuwaiti institutions on water infrastructure, agriculture and irrigation, renewable energy, solid minerals, education, healthcare, industrial development and other sectors critical to the State’s long-term economic transformation.
Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, describing the visit as a strategic move to position Kogi for international development partnerships and sustainable investment.
At the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED), Governor Ododo met with the Acting Director-General, Rashaid Al-Bader, and senior officials of the Fund, where he presented the State’s development priorities and outlined areas in which Kogi requires international financing and technical support.
Governor Ododo said Kogi was seeking a long-term partnership that would enable the State to convert its natural and human resources into sustainable economic opportunities.
He highlighted the State’s strategic location, extensive water resources, agricultural potential, solid mineral deposits and emerging energy opportunities, noting that investments in these areas would support food security, job creation, industrialisation and improved living standards.
The Kuwait Fund expressed readiness, in principle, to work with Kogi State on priority projects, subject to the required 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 proposed partnership will also support project preparation, feasibility studies, engineering designs, technical assistance, institutional capacity development and environmental and social assessments.
Governor Ododo explained that the sectors were interconnected, stressing that improved water infrastructure would strengthen communities and agricultural production, irrigation would promote all-season farming, reliable energy would support agro-processing and industrialisation, while mineral beneficiation would enable Kogi to retain greater value from its natural resources.
The delegation also engaged Kuwait University on possible collaboration in education, research, innovation, engineering, agriculture, water-resource management and technology.
Governor Ododo met with the President of Kuwait University, Prof. Dina Musaed Al-Mailem, where both sides explored opportunities for knowledge exchange, research collaboration and capacity development between the university and tertiary institutions in Kogi State.
The proposed cooperation is expected to strengthen technical knowledge and human capital development as the State pursues its long-term development objectives.
In another major engagement, the delegation met with Kuwait’s Minister of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy, Dr. Subaih Abdulaziz Al-Mukhaizeem.
Discussions focused on water infrastructure, irrigation, renewable energy, power development and technical cooperation, areas considered critical to Kogi’s plans to expand agricultural production, develop agro-processing and provide reliable energy for industrial growth.
The State also opened discussions on commerce, investment, industrial cooperation and value addition, with the objective of creating stronger economic linkages between Kogi and Kuwaiti businesses and institutions.
The delegation further met with the Governor of Al Ahmadi Governorate, His Excellency Sheikh Humoud Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, to explore a possible sister-government relationship and cooperation in infrastructure, investment, industry and development experience.
A major outcome of the mission is the commencement of a technical process to advance the understandings reached during the engagements.
Under the process, technical teams are expected to undertake project documentation, feasibility studies, technical assessments and other preparatory work required to move the proposed partnerships towards implementation.
Governor Ododo expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for the Federal Government’s diplomatic support and enabling environment for subnational governments to engage international development and investment partners.
He also commended the Nigerian Embassy in Kuwait, led by Ambassador (Dr.) Abubakar Sanusi Aliyu, for facilitating and supporting the engagements.
Governor Ododo said the Kuwait mission marked the beginning of detailed technical work towards building sustainable partnerships capable of helping Kogi unlock its potential in water, agriculture and irrigation, energy, education and research, solid minerals, commerce and industrial development.
Members of the Governor’s delegation included the Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Asiwaju Asiru Idris, FCA; Commissioner for Works, Hon. Momoh Ozigi Deedat; Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Hon. Timothy Ojomah; Commissioner for Water Resources, Hon. Farouk Muhammed; State Auditor-General, Hon. Yakubu Yusuf Okala; and Chief Economic Adviser to the Governor, Hon. Nda Salami.
