Kaduna Leads Innovation: Nigeria's First Agro-Processing Zone Launched

According to Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, president of the African Development Bank (ADB), Kaduna State is the first Nigerian state to establish a Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ).

Governor Uba Sani's dedication to agricultural transformation was commended by Dr. Adesina during his courtesy call at Sir Kashim Ibrahim House on Tuesday.

Citing Kaduna State's impressive budgeted increase for agriculture from N1.4 billion to N74 billion, the ADB president said the increase is an illustration of political will supported by significant investment.

Adesina said, "You didn't just put your money where your mouth is—you put your money where your mind and your body are," to the cheers of the dignitaries and stakeholders in attendance.

"This project, led by Kaduna, reflects not only a vision for food security but also a roadmap for economic prosperity and inclusive development," he said.

"You are the first state to launch the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone in Nigeria," Dr. Adesina added, further characterizing Kaduna as a trailblazer. For all of us, today is fantastic.

"Not only did we get hospitality here in Kaduna, I think we got maternity too?— because your Deputy Governor is a medical doctor," the AfDB president added, praising the state's hospitality.

The AfDB's dedication to helping Kaduna State grow its school feeding programs and incorporate them with the new processing zones was underlined by Dr. Adesina.

He promised more funding for health insurance, infrastructure (such as water, sanitation, and digitization), and improvements to primary healthcare.

"We're proud to partner with a government that listens, that leads with compassion, and that is open to all," the ADB president continued.

Governor Uba Sani is "a model leader—he's a listener, a unifier, and above all, a doer," according to the ADB president.

Governor Uba Sani praised the ADB president's revolutionary efforts in agriculture throughout the continent and called Dr. Adesina "a blessing to Nigeria, Africa, and humanity" in his remarks.

Governor Uba Sani added that more than 15 million smallholder farmers throughout Nigeria, primarily in northern Nigeria, had profited from Dr. Akin's E-wallet program, which he started years ago while he was Nigeria's Minister of Agriculture.

In addition to transforming agriculture, the project might have tackled the issue of financial exclusion that we currently face by giving our smallholder farmers access to bank loans.


Additionally, it may have tackled the issue of insecurity that Northern Nigeria is currently suffering. Approximately 60% of jobs in Kaduna are in agriculture, which also generates roughly 42% of the state's GDP.

For this reason, we think that a large portion of the progress that agriculture could have brought about has been impeded by insecurity.

We increased the agricultural budget from N1.4 billion, which we inherited in 2023, to N74 billion in the current budget because we think it's one of the most crucial areas to invest in.

He claimed that by doing so, he had become the first subnational government to meet the 2014 Malabo Declaration's 10 percent target, which called for a budgetary allocation of 10 percent to agriculture.

The Agro-Industrial Processing Zone's opening was hailed by the governor as a crucial project for Kaduna State.

Dr. Adesina's efforts to revolutionize agriculture in Nigeria and throughout Africa were also praised by Governor Sani.