Six state governors have pledged to draw practical lessons from the Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ), in the Republic of Benin as Nigeria intensifies efforts to establish agro-industrial processing hubs, revive domestic manufacturing and create large-scale employment for young people.

The governors spoke at the weekend after joining Vice President Kashim Shettima on an inspection of the integrated industrial zone near Cotonou, where cotton, cashew nuts, soybeans and other agricultural commodities are processed into finished and semi-finished products.

The delegation comprised Governors Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, Dauda Lawal, Zamfara; Caleb Mutfwang, State; AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Kwara; Dikko Umar Radda, Katsina; and Umar Namadi, Jigawa.

According to the governors, the GDIZ model demonstrated how deliberate government policy, reliable infrastructure and private-sector investment could link farmers to processors, reduce the export of raw commodities and create jobs across agricultural and manufacturing value chains.

Governor AbdulRazaq of Kwara state described the visit as an African peer-learning mission intended to help Nigerian states avoid costly mistakes and adopt tested industrial practices.

“Nigeria is on the verge of developing industrial processing zones across the federation. We previously visited Ethiopia to study what they had done, and we are now in Benin Republic to learn from both the challenges and the successes of this industrial zone.

“We have examined the cotton, cashew and soybean value chains. What we have seen has been a tremendous success, and we will take these lessons back to Nigeria as we implement our own projects”, AbdulRasaq stated.

He said participating states were working with the Federal Government and development partners, including the African Development Bank, Islamic Development Bank and International Fund for Agricultural Development, to provide the infrastructure required for the zones. Nigeria’s first SAPZ phase covers seven states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Also speaking, Jigawa State Governor Namadi said the industrial zone had provided useful lessons for his state’s efforts to add value to agricultural production under Nigeria’s Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones Programme.

“What we have seen here is very encouraging, both for us as a country and as a state. We have learnt many things that will help us industrialise Jigawa and create sustainable jobs for our young people.

“With the adoption of this concept and the implementation of the SAPZ programme in Nigeria, Jigawa will be able to add value to its agricultural products and create more opportunities for its people,” he said.

On his part, Zamfara State Governor Lawal said the visit revived memories of the once-thriving textile industry in his state, where factories, cotton ginneries and oil mills previously employed thousands of people.

He said: “This takes me down memory lane because I grew up around this industry. My father was one of the owners of the Zamfara Textile Industry.

“At one point, the factory operated three shifts, with about 2,000 workers on each shift. Zamfara also had about 23 ginneries and an oil mill, where even cotton seeds were converted into oil.”

The governor said the GDIZ model had strengthened his determination to restore cotton production and textile manufacturing in Zamfara.

“This visit has given me a clear pathway. Reviving this industry is one of the legacies I want to leave in Zamfara State, and I am determined to make it a reality.

“When the entire system is restored, farmers, processors and manufacturers will participate in the value chain, creating jobs, adding value and improving the economic conditions of our people.”

Also, Governor Uzodimma of Imo state said African countries must deepen peer learning and develop industries around their respective comparative advantages to create employment and shared prosperity.

He commended President Bola Tinubu for directing Vice President Shettima to lead the delegation, describing the visit as a practical step towards implementing the administration’s industrialisation agenda.

“We are satisfied with what we have seen. If this model is properly adapted in Nigeria, with every state building around its comparative advantage, we will create the prosperity and employment opportunities our people need.

“The Renewed Hope Agenda offers a pathway for addressing poverty, expanding production and leaving lasting economic legacies for future generations”, Uzodimma said.

Katsina State Governor Radda said the production systems at GDIZ could be reproduced in Nigerian states with strong agricultural value chains.

“What we have seen today is achievable in our states. Katsina is one of Nigeria’s major cotton-producing states, and we are also doing well in soybean production,” Radda said.

“We have both comparative and competitive advantages in these commodities. By applying the lessons from this zone, we can create jobs for our young people, generate wealth and build stronger links between agriculture and industry.”

For Plateau State Governor Mutfwang, GDIZ is a successful proof of concept, saying its transformation from an idea into a functioning industrial ecosystem demonstrated the importance of political commitment, careful planning and competent management.

“What we have seen is something that has moved from an idea to reality. The lesson is that this kind of success requires intentionality. It cannot happen by chance. It requires political will and the appointment of the right people to drive the process,” Mutfwang said.

He maintained that Nigeria and Plateau State possessed even greater economic potential but must take deliberate steps to convert raw agricultural output into processed goods.

“We came with the Vice President to see a practical demonstration of what we have been discussing. This aligns with the President’s vision of building a $1 trillion economy. That ambition must be driven by production, processing and a firm belief that Nigeria has the capacity to achieve it,” the governor said. (Arise News)

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