The United States of American Envoy to Nigeria, Mr Terrence McCulley, yesterday challenged private sector operators who want to embark on power projects to access funding from his country's Import-Export Bank.

Recently, US Import-Export Bank promised to expend $1 billion in funding power projects in the country.

McCulley said: "I want the private sector here to come forward with projects in the power sector and benefit from the $1.2 billion pledged by the Chief Executive Officer of the US EXIM Bank during his visit to Nigeria when he signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Power."

The ambassador described the state government's initiatives in agriculture as commendable and also the drive by Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed to involve communities in the process of governance.

McCulley spoke in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital when he paid a courtesy call on Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed.

He described the private sector as the engine of growth for any economy and noted that the power sector plays a very significant role to enhance growth. The ambassador said given the population of Nigeria and with 42 percent of Nigeria's GDP coming from agriculture, the country has enormous opportunities for growth.

In his response Governor Ahmed said his administration is partnering with the US-based Cornell University to develop an Agric City in the northern part of the state, saying when operational; the 'city' will become a haven for commercial farming and processing.