By Salawu Nneka Patience
The Kogi State Government has expressed its readiness to support initiatives capable of attracting agricultural investment, modern technology, financing and new market opportunities to the state.
The Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon. Timothy Ojomah, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Moses Dare, stated this when he received the Founder of AAWDI Family Farmers for Food Sufficiency Initiative, Hajiya Rekiya Ibrahim Amedu, during a meeting on the proposed participation of Kogi State in the AAWDI International Agric-Tech & Business Expo 2026 in Abuja.
The meeting centred on opportunities for Kogi State to leverage the Expo to showcase its agricultural potential and connect with investors, technology providers, financial institutions, development partners, processors and other critical players across the agricultural value chain.
Ojomah, through the Permanent Secretary, acknowledged the strategic importance of exposing Kogi’s agricultural opportunities to investors and other stakeholders, noting that initiatives that promote food security, enterprise development, employment and private-sector investment align with the state’s development aspirations.
5
He said Kogi was endowed with significant opportunities in crop production, livestock, aquaculture, agro-processing and agribusiness, stressing that stronger collaboration among government, farmers, investors and development partners remained essential to unlocking the full potential of the sector.
The Commissioner assured the organisers that the Ministry would give the proposal the necessary consideration within the available framework of government support.
Earlier, Amedu appealed to the state government to participate prominently in the Expo, describing it as a strategic platform through which Kogi could attract fresh investments, agricultural technologies, financing, market linkages and development partnerships.
The Kogi-born agribusiness advocate said the state possessed enormous agricultural resources but needed to establish stronger connections between its productive capacity and the technology, capital, expertise and markets required to transform those resources into sustainable wealth.
According to her, the Expo is expected to bring together farmers, agribusiness owners, investors, financial institutions, technology companies, government agencies, development partners and international business interests.
She said a strong Kogi presence would enable the state to showcase its agricultural products, investment opportunities and achievements while creating platforms for strategic partnerships.
Amedu particularly highlighted the potential benefits for women and youths, saying increased access to agricultural technology, finance, markets and enterprise opportunities could make agriculture a more attractive and profitable source of employment and economic empowerment.
She therefore appealed to the state government to consider sponsorship and institutional support for Kogi’s participation, stressing that such support should be viewed as an investment in food security, job creation, youth empowerment, women’s economic inclusion and investment attraction.
She commended the administration of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for its efforts towards agricultural development and expressed optimism that the Expo would provide another avenue for Kogi to strengthen its position as a destination for agricultural investment.
Amedu said her aspiration was to see Kogi move beyond the mere possession of agricultural potential to a point where its resources are deliberately converted into businesses, jobs, wealth and improved livelihoods for its people.
Also speaking, the Director of Agricultural Services, Mr. Kunle Agbana, underscored the importance of building stronger partnerships across the agricultural sector.
Agbana said connecting farmers with modern technology, affordable financing, markets, investors and improved farming practices would help increase productivity and strengthen food security.
He also stressed the need to expand opportunities for women and youths, describing agriculture and agribusiness as critical sectors for employment generation and economic empowerment.
He welcomed the proposed Expo, saying it would provide stakeholders with an opportunity to exchange ideas, identify investment opportunities and establish partnerships capable of accelerating the development of Kogi’s agricultural value chain.
R
The AAWDI International Agric-Tech & Business Expo 2026 is expected to serve as a convergence point for farmers, agribusiness operators, investors, technology providers, financial institutions, government agencies and development organisations.
Amedu expressed optimism that a strong Kogi presence at the event would enhance the visibility of the state’s agricultural opportunities and help attract the capital, technology and partnerships required to translate its vast agricultural resources into sustainable economic growth.
