The European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, Samuela Isopi, made the disclosure during her maiden visit to the Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, on Wednesday at the Government House, Lafia.
According to her, the purpose of the visit was to deepen the relationship with the state and engage in a multi-dimensional partnership that included climate change issues, economic relations, cooperation on democratic governance, peace and security, among others.
Isopi, who is also the EU Ambassador to ECOWAS, explained that the EU’s interest was to work together closely to support each other in addressing challenges affecting them.
She said, “We are an important development partner, definitely the first development partners of Nigeria in terms of grants.
“We have a multi-dimensional cooperation which goes from peace, security, governance and migration to human development, education and health to green and digital economy.
“We will support in agriculture, which is a very important sector for the economy of Nasarawa State. We will also support in the field of green energy, innovation and many other fields.
“We are also active in renewable energies through a project, through which we support rural electrification and we work in particular with a few partners in the state.”
The EU Ambassador, therefore, called on the Nasarawa state government to support them in order to actualise their set goals in the state.
On his part, Governor Abdullahi Sule expressed gratitude to the EU Ambassador for the visit, noting that Nigeria and Nasarawa State share the same values with the EU, such as peace and security, as well as upholding the tenets of democratic process and social cohesion.
Sule said the state was welcoming investment in oil and gas, agriculture, clean energy, and solid mineral development, with a focus on lithium development.
He noted that in order to address unemployment and help young people become self-reliant, the state was supporting education, skills, and vocational training.
He highlighted some of the agricultural potentials in the state that investors could take advantage of to invest.
According to him, Nasarawa is number one in sesame production in the country, with a lot of investors already showing interest in sesame processing with immense benefit to the state and the people.
“By early next year, we are going to have the first sesame seed processing company in the state,” he said
He also mentioned the potential in cassava and sugar cane production with the Dangote Sugar Company coming on board to attract investors interest in ethanol production for energy generation.
Governor Sule, therefore, assured that the state government would work closely with the EU in order to promote the economic development of the state, among others areas.
