Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, has led a high-level delegation to Kuwait as the state seeks international development financing, technical expertise and strategic partnerships to advance projects contained in its Kogi State Development Plan 2024–2056.

The visit has opened a development partnership process between Kogi State and key Kuwaiti institutions, with discussions moving beyond preliminary engagements towards technical assessments and preparation of priority projects.

A major engagement was held with the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED), where Governor Ododo met the Fund’s Acting Director-General, Rashaid A. Al-Bader, and senior officials. The governor presented Kogi’s long-term development priorities and outlined areas where the state is seeking international cooperation.

According to reports on the meeting, KFAED expressed readiness in principle to consider working with Kogi State on priority development projects, subject to the Fund’s required technical, financial and institutional appraisal processes. This means the engagement represents a pathway towards possible financing and technical cooperation rather than a completed financing agreement.

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

The cooperation could also involve project preparation, feasibility studies, engineering designs, technical assistance, institutional capacity development and environmental and social assessments. These preparatory stages are expected to help determine the feasibility, financing structure and implementation requirements of individual projects.

Ododo presented Kogi’s water resources, agricultural potential, strategic location, solid mineral deposits and emerging energy opportunities as areas capable of supporting wider economic activity if matched with appropriate infrastructure and technical expertise.

The governor also highlighted the relationship between the proposed investments. He said stronger water infrastructure could support communities and agriculture, expanded irrigation could promote year-round farming, reliable electricity could strengthen agro-processing and industrialisation, while processing solid minerals within the state could help retain more value from its natural resources.

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

Ododo met with the university’s President, Prof. Dina Musaed Al-Mailem, as both sides explored opportunities for knowledge exchange, research collaboration and capacity development involving Kuwait University and tertiary institutions in Kogi State. Kuwait University separately confirmed the September 27 visit and said discussions focused on strengthening academic and research cooperation with Nigerian educational institutions.

The delegation also met with the Governor of Al Ahmadi Governorate, Sheikh Humoud Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, where discussions centred on the possibility of establishing a sister-government relationship and expanding cooperation in infrastructure, investment, industry and development.

Another engagement was held with Kuwait’s Minister of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy, Dr. Subaih Abdulaziz Al-Mukhaizeem. Discussions covered water infrastructure, irrigation, renewable energy, power development and technical cooperation, areas that align with Kogi’s plans for agricultural expansion and industrial development.

The engagements are expected to enter a more technical phase, with project documentation, feasibility work and other assessments required before specific projects can progress towards implementation and financing.

Members of the Kogi 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.

Governor Ododo expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what he described as the Federal Government’s diplomatic support for subnational governments seeking international development partnerships. He also acknowledged the role of the Nigerian Embassy in Kuwait in facilitating the engagements.

The Kogi government said the mission is intended to strengthen the state’s ability to attract investment and technical partnerships while advancing the long-term objectives contained in its 2024–2056 development plan.

For Kogi, the outcome of the Kuwait visit will ultimately depend on the technical and financial assessments that follow, as well as the conversion of the current understandings into specific projects, financing arrangements and implementation agreements.

Reporting by TalkNaijaMedia