Kwara State government has signed two major agreements with the French government on strategic partnership involving the use of an innovation hub for knowledge transfer as well as development of the Lata grazing reserve for large-scale livestock production.
The state governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq signed the memorandum of understanding (MoU) on behalf of the state government, while the French minister of State for Development, Francophonie and International Partnerships, Dr. Chrysoula Zacharopoulou inked the deal for the French side.
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The MoU signing was followed by a brief inspection of the Dolby Studio-fitted Ilorin Visual Arts Centre, one of AbdulRazaq’s signature projects, which seeks to promote creative industry using cutting edge technology.
The French team was conducted round the Visual Arts Centre by Studio Contra’s Jefferey Ajei, who spoke on the varying facilities installed and the benefits they are meant to serve.
At the event, Zacharopoulou said she was impressed by what she had seen in Kwara, calling the state a hub of human capital development and praising the governor for his initiatives on education, youth empowerment, and gender inclusion policy.
She said the Kwara State Agricultural Transformation Plan is a big boost for development in the state.
The governor in his remarks said: “This event shows that our doors are open to the world. We are happy to have, for the first time, a high-ranking team led by the minister visiting the state. This is just the beginning. We will open our doors wider for greater investments and visitations. Ilorin, for the first time, is gracing a jet belonging to the President of France, and this has its symbolic importance.
“We share a lot in common with the ideas of the French leader, Emanuele Macron, especially in youth and gender engagement. We truly buy into it, especially at the level of leadership. It is not just to encourage women but to put them in a position of leadership so that they can make the right decision especially in the education development, technology, commercial agriculture and sustainable development goals (SDGs).
“We will continue to push and develop in that manner. Many people did not know that Alliance Francais exists in Ilorin. Like the Minister has said, French is a language of opportunities, and as you can see, all the countries that surround Nigeria all speak French. So that is where opportunities can come to us.
“We also want to take the best advantage of innovation in agriculture to improve the yield in that sector. We want to be competitive in agriculture, technology, and youth. So your visit is really a game changer. You might not know the impact of the Lata Grazing Reserve you are trying to do. Lata was established more than sixty years ago. Not much has been happening there, but with our cooperation now, we will be able to do something big there. The reserve, when developed, will help check the conflicts between farmers and herdsmen,” he said.