Bello Hosts IFAD-VCDP Advisor, Fatima Buhari

Kogi State Governor,Yahaya Bello on Tuesday, received in audience, marketing enterprise development advisor for the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Value Chain Development (VCDP), Hajiya Fatima Buhari.

Hajiya Fatima Buhari, daughter to President Muhammadu Buhari visited Kogi State as part of VCDP’s agenda to improve incomes and food security of rural households engaged in production, processing, and marketing agricultural produce on a sustainable basis in Kogi State.

Deputy Governor, Chief (Dr.) Edward Onoja hosted Hajiya Fatima Buhari at Banquet Hall, Lugard House on grounds of her scheduled technical support visits to various component and processing centers in Lokoja and Ajaokuta LGAs of the State.

He lauded the IFAD-VCDP for adopting a gender strategy that includes women’s access to assets, strengthening their groups in terms of value chain governance, easing their workload, and improving their well-being. He assured that his administration will continue to provide open fields for agricultural development along priority value chains.

Saying that Kogi State was drafted into the Program due to its strategic position in the nation's value chain, Hajiya Fatima Buhari appreciated Governor Bello for availing the Program of adequate counterpart funding in its efforts to boost agricultural production and processing capacity of small scale farmers.

State Coordinator, Stella Adejoh also revealed that the Program seeks to realize demand-driven infrastructure investments for improved market access.

In attendance was the Secretary to the State Government, State Head of Service, State Deputy Chief of Staff, State Commissioner for Agriculture and his counterparts, Chairman, Lokoja LGA, and stakeholders of the IFAD-VCDP