Kwara State is partnering with Cornell University, New York, United States of America to launch a master plan for the state’s agricultural modernisation, which will form the basis of the administration’s plan to drive economic development using its strength in agriculture.
In preparation for the launch, a team of professors from the University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences will arrive in Ilorin, the state capital, next weekend to finalise details with the state government.
Based on collaboration between Bridge Education and Technology Institute, a US-based consultancy, and the state government, the plan is designed by the Cornell professors and a number of renowned Nigerian counterparts.
Making the announcement in Ilorin, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed said the masterplan outlines strategies to improve the state’s agricultural and agro-industry infrastructure, harness the state’s agricultural endowment through the application of science and technology to the agricultural processes.
It also aims to raise the state’s agricultural output to enhance economic, food and nutritional security of the people of Kwara State and of Nigeria as well as build on the previous administration’s successes in agriculture.
Continuing, Ahmed said the masterplan also forms the main plank of his strategy to leverage on the state’s growing reputation for commercial agriculture and agro-allied businesses.
Ahmed said that the master plan is also designed to create global opportunities for Kwara’s agricultural products and evolve an enabling environment to attract high impact foreign and local investors and entrepreneurs to the state.