Ododo Leads Kogi to Kuwait, Secures Development Partnership

By Sopuruchukwu Nnaji

Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Usman Ododo, has led a high-level delegation to Kuwait to attract affordable development financing and partnerships for the Kogi State Development Plan 2024–2056.

The mission opened a new partnership with key Kuwaiti institutions, with technical teams now set to move from high-level talks to preparation of priority projects.

At the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED), Ododo met with Acting Director-General, Mr. Rashaid A. Al-Bader and senior officials, where he presented Kogi’s development priorities.

He said Kogi is seeking a long-term partnership to convert its strategic location, water resources, agricultural potential, solid minerals and energy opportunities into jobs, food security and industrial growth.

The Kuwait Fund expressed readiness in principle to work with the state, subject to technical and financial appraisals.

The partnership will focus on water, irrigation and agriculture, power and renewable energy, solid minerals, agro-industrial development, transport, ICT, education and healthcare, including feasibility studies, engineering designs and capacity development.

The governor also held talks with Kuwait University President, Prof. Dina Musaed Al-Mailem, on education and research collaboration, with Al Ahmadi Governor, Sheikh Humoud Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, on sister-government ties, and with Kuwait’s Minister of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy, Dr. Subaih Al-Mukhaizeem, on water and energy cooperation.

Members of the delegation included Finance Commissioner Asiwaju Asiru Idris, Works Commissioner Momoh Ozigi Deedat, Agriculture Commissioner Timothy Ojomah, Water Resources Commissioner Farouk Danlami, Auditor-General Yakubu Yusuf Okala and Chief Economic Adviser Nda Salami.

Ododo thanked President Bola Tinubu for diplomatic support and the Nigerian Embassy in Kuwait led by Ambassador Abubakar Sanusi Aliyu for facilitating the engagements, saying the mission marks a shift from discussions to technical work to deliver concrete projects.