August 28, (THEWILL) – The Country Director of Mercy Corps, Ndubisi Anyanywu, has urged the governments of Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Gombe, and Bauchi states to unlock opportunities that would create an enabling environment for investors to thrive in the Northeast region.
Anyanywu stated this on Tuesday while unveiling the agricultural business environment at the Rural Resilience Activity (RRA) partnership day event held in Maiduguri, Borno State. The event was organised by the United States Agency for International Development-funded Feed the Future Nigeria Rural Resilience Activity and other development partners.
According to him, RRA’s objectives are to create competitive markets and rally investors with financial institutions to reinvigorate the various economic sectors in the region.
He said despite the investment challenges in the five states, the region presents opportunities in various economic sectors, particularly in the agricultural value chains to boost employment and food security.
Anyanywu, who said the initiatives focus on modernising farming practices, assured the participants from the industrial and banking sectors and agricultural business firms that advanced technologies would be introduced by providing access to formal finance and credit facilities.
“These are to enhance farmers’ productivity to contribute to economic growth and development in the agricultural and livestock sectors,” said the Country Director.
He said a significant area of socio-economic potential lies in agribusiness, with the region’s production capacity offering opportunities for increased food production.
“Mercy Corps and other development partners are working on the region’s frontlines to create a future of possibility where everyone can prosper in the various sectors of the economy.
“Our mission is to alleviate suffering, poverty, and oppression by helping people build secure, productive, and just communities,” he said, adding that they are committed to creating global change through local impart in the agricultural sector.
He, however, listed the numerous challenges that hold back agro-business potentials, including insecurity, climate change, and other drivers of vulnerability in the six targeted states in the northeast.
Anyanywu informed that these challenges have no single solution or actor to overcome them alone, adding that it requires a strategic and tactical partnership between the state governments, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and organised private sector (OPS).
“They are the ones to unlock the untapped potentials in the region by fostering long-term sustainability and positive socio-economic change,” he said.
The RRA partnership day themed: “Facilitating Trade and Private Sector Investments in Borno State: A Pathway to Resilience, Economic Recovery and Growth,” was organised to woo investors and stimulate economic development in Borno State.
Governor Babagana Zulum, who was represented by Dr. Mairo Mandara, Chief Technical Advisor to the Borno State Government on Humanitarian Coordination, assured that the State Government is committed to the implementation of the 25-year development plan, as it contains most of the objectives of developing the state in various sectors.
Muhammed Yusufari, Director-General, North-East Governors’ Forum, assured of the readiness of regional Governors to provide relevant resources and an enabling environment for investors to bloom.
He reiterated that the Federal Government and regional governors are working hard to ensure the region has a sustained peaceful atmosphere for investors, especially in the area of agriculture and modern mechanised farming.
A six-member panel of experts, including Ayodeji Balogun, Group Chief Executive Officer of AFEX; Associate Prof. Sherrif Mohammed Ibrahim, Expert Islamic Finance; Oyewale Ibitoye, CEO of Premier Seed Nigeria; Mohammed Isyaku, Managing Director of Gerawa Rice Mills; Laminu Bulama, DG of Borno State Investment Promotion Council, and Aliyu Samalia, Agronomist and Agriculture Development Experts, was moderated by Olga Petryniak, Senior Director, Africa Resilience Programmes, Mercy Corps.
The panellists said critical roles have to be played by banking, seed production, rice, and wheat milling firms to boost the various economic sectors, particularly in agricultural production, trade, and commerce.
I am Ladi Dapson, a general writer with thewill. I cover Borno and Yobe states respectively.
I based Maiduguri, Borno State Capital.
I can be reached via [email protected].
Very high and kind regards!
