Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq signed the 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 at a brief ceremony.
This was contained in a statement signed by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye. The event was witnessed by several officials in Ilorin, including Deputy Governor, Kayode Alabi, French Ambassador to Nigeria Mrs Emmanuelle Blatmann, EU Ambassador Samuela Isopi, House of Assembly Speaker Rt. Hon. Yakubu Danladi Salihu, and many lawmakers-elect, among others.
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 the creative industry using cutting-edge technology.
Speaking at the MoU signing, Zacharopoulou said she was impressed by what she has seen in Kwara and commended the governor for his initiatives on education, youth empowerment, and gender inclusion policy.
She also said the Kwara State Agricultural Transformation Plan was a big boost for development in the state.
“French President Emanuel Macron is committed to partnerships with Nigeria and particularly Kwara State, which is a major hub for human capital development. We share the same values with Your Excellency. Our president has a strong affection for this country and the Nigerian people.
“So, I can feel the energy, creativity, and potential that this (state) offers. I look forward to discovering them during my visit. But today, agriculture is my main priority.
“In our relations with the African continent, we want to move beyond the state to state relations and develop links and develop ties between people. We want politicians to be involved and develop what is called a people-to-people relationship. We want to work together. We want to learn from you as you are going to learn from us. This is a big challenge. The challenges are common, and the solutions will be common.
“The French Development Agency invests a lot in rural infrastructure in this region. I am very happy with this signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding between the government of Kwara State and the French consulting company BRLI, which kicks off a partnership in the modernisation of Lata Grazing Reserve.
“This project will strengthen efforts to improve milk and meat production as well as livestock productivity and marketing of these products. It will also improve the quality and quantity of animal feeds and water. It will improve animal health. It will contribute to the improvement of the agricultural output of Kwara State and the lives of its citizens. This will lead to a strong synergy between France and Nigeria’s agribusiness sector in the years to come,” she said.
On his part, the governor explained that the partnership will Kwara’s doors wider for greater investments and visitations.
“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.
“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.”
