The Governor of Nasarawa State, Engr. Abdullahi Sule has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening its collaboration with the Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) to drive agricultural transformation.
He highlighted the significant progress achieved through the existing partnership and assured continued cooperation for further advancements in the sector.
Governor Sule made this pledge on Tuesday in Abuja at the 2025 Annual Stakeholder Workshop organised by SAA Nigeria. The event, themed “Transforming the Agricultural Landscape through Digital Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services,” convened key stakeholders, including representatives from federal and state ministries of agriculture, agricultural development programmes (ADPs), educational institutions, digital extension providers and farmer organisations.
Emphasising Nasarawa’s agricultural potential, Governor Sule noted that over 60 per cent of the state’s population is engaged in farming, positioning it as a key player in Nigeria’s agricultural development.
“Agriculture is vital to Nasarawa’s economy, and we have made significant investments to enhance its growth. While the state is also rich in mineral resources, we are still working to harness them fully. Our partnership with Sasakawa has been instrumental, and we remain committed to this collaboration. I assure you that Nasarawa State will continue to be a strong partner in this journey,” he said.
The governor commended SAA’s contributions to the state, particularly the establishment of two rice value chain development centers funded by the Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). Located in Assakio (Lafia LGA) and Agwatashi (Obi LGA), these centres are revolutionising rice production, processing and marketing. They offer storage, processing, transportation and training facilities for rice cooperatives, significantly boosting local agricultural productivity.
In his remarks, president of SAA, Dr. Makoto Kitanaka emphasised the organisation’s commitment to partnerships and collaboration, stressing the importance of digital extension services and climate-smart technologies in advancing food security across Africa.
“Our strength lies in our partnerships. By working with farmers, governments, and key stakeholders, we aim to drive sustainable agricultural transformation. The theme of this workshop reflects our growing focus on digital tools and climate-smart innovations to enhance productivity and resilience,” he stated.
SAA Nigeria country director, Dr. Godwin Atser underscored the transformative potential of digital solutions in modernising agricultural extension services.
“Digital tools are bridging gaps, empowering stakeholders, and ensuring that crucial knowledge reaches those who need it most. Whether in agriculture, health, education, or business, technology enables real-time, data-driven support essential for improving decision-making and productivity,” he explained.
Atser urged stakeholders to embrace collaborative, innovative, and action-oriented approaches to build smart, scalable and sustainable digital advisory systems for the future.
As part of the workshop’s opening ceremony, awards for excellence were presented to the governments of Nasarawa, Gombe, Jigawa and Kano States, recognising their contributions to agricultural development. Former country director of AGRA Nigeria, Dr. Kehinde Makinde was also honoured for his role in promoting agricultural innovations.
Representing their respective governors were: Managing director of Kano State Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (KNARDA), Dr. Farouk Kurawa; Jigawa State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Muhammad Alhassan and the Gombe State Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Barnabas Malle.
Additionally, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari was represented by Olawumi Ayodele, a director from the ministry.
This workshop reaffirmed the commitment of governments, development partners, and agricultural experts to leveraging digital innovation and strategic collaboration for sustainable agricultural transformation in Nigeria.
