Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to deepening its collaboration with the Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA), highlighting the massive progress the state has made in agriculture through the existing partnership.
Governor Sule made this pledge on Tuesday in Abuja during the opening of the 2025 Annual Stakeholder Workshop organized by SAA Nigeria.
The program is themed “Transforming the Agricultural Landscape through Digital Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services.’’
A statement Issued by Communication Officer, Sasakawa Africa Association Nigeria, Moses Nongoatse, on Wednesday said the workshop brought together key players in Nigeria’s agricultural sector, including heads and representatives of federal and state Ministries of Agriculture, agricultural development programs (ADPs), educational institutions, digital extension providers, and farmer organizations.
Governor Sule emphasized that over 60% of Nasarawa’s population is engaged in agriculture, a resource the state is leveraging to establish itself as Nigeria’s agricultural hub.
“Agriculture is crucial to Nasarawa, and we have made significant investments to boost its development,” the statement said.
While the state is also rich in minerals, we are still working to harness those resources fully. Our partnership with Sasakawa has been invaluable, and we will continue to work closely with them. I can assure you that in Nasarawa State, you have a partner.”
According to the statement, the governor also commended SAA’s efforts in the state, particularly the establishment of two rice value chain development centers funded by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).
’These centers, located in Assakio (Lafia Local Government Area) and Agwatashi (Obi Local Government Area), are revolutionizing rice production, processing, and marketing in the state.
The facilities include storage, processing, transportation, and training centers for rice cooperatives.
In his remarks, President of SAA, Dr. Makoto Kitanaka, underscored the organization’s strength in partnerships and collaborations.
He reiterated SAA’s dedication to working with farmers, governments, and other stakeholders to achieve a food-secure Africa.
Dr. Kitanaka noted that the theme of the workshop aligned with SAA’s increasing focus on digital extension services and climate-smart technologies to enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability.
The SAA Nigeria Country Director, Dr Godwin Atser, harped on the transformative potential of digital solutions in revolutionizing agricultural extension and advisory services.
His words: “Digital tools are bridging gaps, empowering stakeholders, and ensuring critical knowledge reaches those who need it most. Whether in agriculture, health, education, or business, digital technologies enable real-time, data-driven support, which is essential for improving decision-making and productivity. For these solutions to be effective, collaboration is key. This workshop provides an opportunity for policy makers, industry leaders, farmers, service providers, researchers, and end-users to come together, share insights, and develop strategies for inclusive and impactful digital extension services”.
He also urged participants to engage in open discussions, innovative thinking and focus on action to build smart, scalable, and sustainable digital advisory systems for the future.
As a part of the opening ceremony, awards of recognition for excellence were presented to the governments of Nasarawa, Gombe, Jigawa, and Kano States.
Dr. Kehinde Makinde, the former Country Director of AGRA Nigeria, was also honored. Notably, the governors of Kano, Jigawa, and Gombe were represented by senior officials: the Managing Director of the Kano State Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (KNARDA), Dr. Farouk Kurawa; the Jigawa State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Muhammad Alhassan; and the Gombe State Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Barnabas Malle. The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, was represented by a director from the ministry, Olawumi Ayodele.
