A high-level delegation from the Sasakawa African Association (SAA) visited the Government House in Dutse, Jigawa State, on Friday in a courtesy visit to discuss the renewal of their partnership with the state government.
Alhaji Bala Ibrahim, Secretary to the State Government, and Ambassador Mustapha Makama, Chief of Staff to the Governor, warmly welcomed the delegation, which was under the leadership of top-notch SAA officials, including Dr. Godwin Atser, Country Director SAA-Nigeria; Dr. Mel Oluchi, Director Strategic Partnerships, SAA Addis Abeba, Ethiopia; Dr. Stella Kabiri, Lead Regenerative Agriculture; and Dr. Anjoola Fadaro, Technical Coordinator Capacity Development.
The primary objective of the visit was to formally request the renewal of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Sasakawa African Association and the Jigawa State Government, as the previous agreement had reached its expiration. The delegation expressed their deep appreciation for the enduring 30-year partnership with Jigawa State, emphasizing that the state holds a special place in their endeavors.
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Drs. Godwin Atser and Mel Oluchi highlighted Jigawa State’s exceptional commitment to their shared objectives. They stated that Jigawa is one of the key states their organization pays more attention to. They added that the state has demonstrated an unflinching commitment to the partnership and were particularly amazed by Jigawa’s outstanding performance during their assessment parley with the eight state governments in Abuja.
The Sasakawa African Association, formerly known as Sasakawa Global 2000, is a Japan-based organization renowned for its agricultural initiatives and technology transfer. Over the years, they have successfully connected some villages in Jigawa State to agricultural activities under their programs, viewing the state as a center of research and development in agriculture.
In response to the delegation’s visit, Alhaji Bala Ibrahim, the Secretary to the State Government, who represented Governor Mallam Umar Namadi, warmly welcomed the Sasakawa team and commended the fruitful relationship that has existed between the association and Jigawa State over the years. He affirmed, “Agriculture is the mainstay of Jigawa’s economy, and we deeply value the expertise and potential brought about by Sasakawa. The state government, under Governor Umar Namadi’s visionary leadership, considers agriculture as one of the key sectors in our 12-point blueprint aimed at developing the state.”
Assuring the delegation of Jigawa’s commitment to the partnership, Alhaji Bala Ibrahim added, “We will continue to harness the knowledge and technical support provided by Sasakawa to empower our farmers and boost agricultural productivity in the state.”
Top officials of the state’s Ministry of Agriculture and its parastatals, including the Managing Director of the Jigawa State Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (JARDA), were also present during the visit by the Sasakawa group.
The renewal of the partnership between Jigawa State and Sasakawa African Association is expected to further drive agricultural advancements, improve food security, and uplift the livelihoods of farmers in the state.
Signed,
Hamisu Mohammed Gumel
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Jigawa State
