Date: 2012-01-01

The United States of America has pledged its support to the Kwara State Government in the areas of agriculture and policy implementation for the realization of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Agenda.
 
The United States’ Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Terence McCulley made the pledge yesterday in Ilorin when he paid a courtesy visit to the Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed at the Government House, Ilorin.
 
"We would try to work together with the Kwara State Government in order to see how we can move the State forward with particular reference to your efforts in agriculture", the envoy said.
 
According to the envoy who also commended the leadership of Governor Ahmed, agriculture remains a vital weapon for driving the economy forward and praised the governor for his giant strides in transforming the state from subsistence level of farming to commercial agriculture.
 
Responding, Governor Ahmed disclosed that the recent signing of the N70billion Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Vasolar Consortium of Spain for the cultivation, processing and packaging of rice in the State is expected to generate additional 12,000 jobs for the youths.
 
He explained that the rationale behind the State government’s support for agriculture was because a larger percentage of the people of the State are engaged in the sector, hence the need to move from the present subsistence level to a commercial status with a view to enhancing food security in the country.
 
The State government, he said, is already partnering with Corlel University of America to establish an agric-city in the State to make it a haven for commercial farming and Agro-processing.
 
According to the governor, the agric-city when fully operational is expected to serve the local, national and International Markets, adding that government is also putting the International Airport in the State capital into functional level to support export of agro related activities from the proposed agric-city.
 
"We know that the US government has the conducive environment and machinery in ensuring positive output of its workforce, we hereby seek your support in the area of training of our civil servants to ensure their effectiveness and efficiency at work", Ahmed stated further.
 
He, therefore, promised to create an enabling environment for investment to thrive in the State and to strengthen the relationship between Kwara State and America especially in capacity building.

01/01/2012