Jigawa State to renew partnership with Sasakawa for agricultural advancement
The Sasakawa African Association (SAA) delegation paid a courtesy visit to the Government House in Dutse, Jigawa State, on Friday to discuss the renewal of their partnership with the state government.
In a statement released by the media aide to the Governor Hamisu Gumel, states that the visit aimed to request the renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Sasakawa African Association and the Jigawa State Government, as the previous agreement had reached its expiration.
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The delegation, led by Dr. Godwin Atser, Country Director SAA-Nigeria, and Dr. Mel Oluchi, Director Strategic Partnerships, SAA Addis Abeba, Ethiopia, expressed their deep appreciation for the longstanding 30-year partnership with Jigawa State. They highlighted Jigawa’s exceptional commitment to their shared objectives and commended the state’s outstanding performance during their assessment parley with the eight state governments in Abuja.
The Sasakawa African Association, renowned for its agricultural initiatives and technology transfer, sees Jigawa State as a center of research and development in agriculture. Over the years, they have successfully connected some villages in Jigawa State to agricultural activities under their programs.
In response, Alhaji Bala Ibrahim, the Secretary to the State Government, who represented Governor Mallam Umar Namadi, welcomed the Sasakawa team and commended the fruitful relationship that has existed between the association and Jigawa State. He acknowledged agriculture as the mainstay of Jigawa’s economy and emphasized the state government’s commitment to the partnership, stating, “We will continue to harness the knowledge and technical support provided by Sasakawa to empower our farmers and boost agricultural productivity in the state.”
The renewal of the partnership between Jigawa State and Sasakawa African Association is expected to drive agricultural advancements, improve food security, and uplift the livelihoods of farmers in the state. The top officials of the state’s Ministry of Agriculture and its parastatals were present during the visit to discuss the future endeavors.