Samuela Isopi, the European Union (EU) Ambassador to Nigeria, has promised to collaborate with the Nasarawa State Government in the areas of green energy and digital economy to guarantee the state’s economic diversification for growth and development.
Ambassador Isopi, stated this during her maiden visit to Lafia, the state capital, where she met with Governor Abdullahi Sule, at the Government House, and discussed possible areas of partnership with the EU.
According to her, the purpose of the visit is to deepen relationship with the state and engage in a multi-dimensional partnership, which includes climate change issues, economic relations, cooperation on democratic governance, peace and security, among others.
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Isopi, who is also the EU Ambassador to ECOWAS,
explained that EU’s interest is 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 multidimensional 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.
“The European Union has been active and remains active in some areas in particular, climate smart agriculture. We will be visiting later today the site of rice production, which is funded through an EU programme to increase food production in the state and to improve food security in the state and to improve nutrition in the state.
“We are also active in renewable energies through a project, electrify, through which we support rural electrification and we work in particular with a few partners in the state.”
The EU Ambassador further said that the EU runs a project to support interfaith dialogue, adding that EU is working in a few communities to build peace among citizens of the State, especially in communities affected by the farmers/herdsmen crisis.
She, therefore, called on the State Government to support them in order to actualize their goals.
Respoonding, Governor Abdullahi Sule expressed gratitude to the EU Ambassador for the visit, noting that Nigeria and Nasarawa State share same value with EU on peace and security as well as upholding the tenets of democratic process and social cohesion
Sule said, “The State welcomes investment in oil and gas, agriculture, clean energy, and solid mineral development with a focus on lithium development. In order to address unemployment and help young people become self-reliant, the state is supporting education, skills, and vocational training.
He highlighted some of the agricultural potentials in the State where investor could take advantage to invest, saying 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.
Sule said the State is also looking at exploring the complete value-chain in yam production as well as the improvement in rice production where the State occupies the fifth position to become the one of the top three producers in the country.
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He also mentioned the potentials in Cassava and sugar cane production with the Dangote Sugar company coming on board, to attract investors interest in ethanol production for energy generation.
The governor explained that, the State Government through the Nasarawa State Investment Development Agency (NASIDA) is offering a one-stop-shop for investors where they will be provided with incentives and guided through all necessary processes that will guarantee their investment.
He, therefore, assured that the government would work closely with the EU in order to promote interfaith harmony as well as economic development of the State among others areas.
