The Kwara State Government has expressed confidence in the viability of its Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones project, saying available infrastructure would support its successful implementation.
The assurance came on Wednesday at the end of a three-day capacity-building workshop for the State Project Implementation Unit organised in Ilorin by SAO Capital, the transaction advisory firm guiding the project.
While declaring the workshop open, the Commissioner for Livestock Development, Mrs. Oloruntoyosi Thomas, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Mohammed Yahaya, said agriculture remained the state’s strategic tool for economic transformation.
She stressed that the government was determined to move beyond primary production to processing, noting that Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s administration had provided the necessary infrastructure to ensure the project’s viability.
“The SAPZ project is a platform to bridge many gaps in our agricultural sector. His Excellency has taken a bold step to key into this initiative to revolutionise agriculture in Kwara and improve the livelihood of our people,” Thomas said.
The commissioner urged participants to take advantage of the sessions to strengthen the implementation process.
Also speaking, the Coordinator of KW-SAPZ, Engr. Dr. Busari Toyin Isiaka observed that the workshop was designed to equip staff with technical knowledge in project management, teamwork, stakeholder engagement, and investment portfolio management.
“This is not a routine workshop but a strategic platform to strengthen our capacity in driving the SAPZ vision to transform Kwara into a competitive hub for dairy and beef value chains,” he said.
Busari explained that the project would operationalise the Agro-Industrial Hub in Malete and strengthen four Agricultural Transformation Centres located in Afon, Olodan, Kinikini, and Gidan Mangajiya, with sustainable private sector linkages.
The Team Lead of SAO Capital, Mrs. Omotola Agbi, said the training was designed to roll out technical details required for effective delivery, stressing that Kwara’s commitment to the project positioned it as a model among participating states.
The workshop featured technical sessions led by Engr. Temitope Famoroti and Dr. Lukman Popoola, covering topics including the overview of agro-industry and processing in Nigeria, project management, and investment strategies.
