USAID rural resilience activity organises business partnership day forum in Gombe
By Bashir Hassan Abubakar
Toward enhancing investment in Agricultural value chain with special focus on small and medium scale entrepreneurs within the North Eastern part of Nigeria, a one day investment and experience sharing meeting tagged “Partnership Day” was held at the International Conference Centre Gombe yesterday.
The meeting was organised by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funded intervention titled Nigerian Rural Resilience Activity (RRA) under the “Feed the Future” initiative of the US Government, which is being implemented by Mercy Corps.
Declaring the meeting open on behalf of Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, the State Deputy Governor, Dr. Manassah Daniel Jatau described the partnership day engagement as apt, germane and necessary.
The Deputy Governor said that North East Sub Region is blessed with rich agricultural land and large livestock that can be harnessed by the private sector investment with a view to improving economic status of the region’s citizen through job opportunities, wealth creation and return for their investment in the region.
Dr. Jatau who readily admits some challenges in running modern agricultural value chain and livestock businesses, said that with little modernization in animal husbandry, cross breading technology, diary and beef processing, reservation, packaging, storage, and innovative marketing, the socio-economic benefits will be immensely felt by individuals, society and the nation at large.
The Deputy Governor further called on the State Governments of the North Eastern part of Nigeria to re-demonstrate their political will to accommodate investors and learn new innovative approach of doing businesses, that is being advocated by Mercy Corps.
While thanking USAID RRA intervention, Mercy Corps and other partners for organising the partnership day engagement, Dr. Jatau concludes saying, “with the determination of the Governors of the Sub-region, the future is bright, promising and attainable”.
In her speech, the Feed the Future Team Lead of USAID Nigeria, Jazmian Ohanyere said that the Rural Resilience Activity (RRA) has facilitated over $97 Million from private sector players as investments and trade within the agriculture value chains in the Northeast with over 770, 000 individuals being impacted positively, through capacity building of small scale farmers, and businesses, increasing access to finance, quality inputs, strengthening market linkages, and promoting the adoption of climate change smart practices.
The team lead pointed out that Northeast Nigeria holds an untapped potential, which , when effectively harnessed, can be a catalyst for the Region’s development and the nation at large.
Jazmian Ohanyere said that, the five year RRA initiative that is being implemented by Mercy Corps and other partners is aimed at partnering with businesses,farmers, and public institutions to sustainably move people out of vulnerability and poverty through expanded economic opportunities.
Earlier in his opening remarks Ndubisi Anyanwu, the Country Director of Mercy Corps Nigeria, said the objectives of the Partnership Day engagement was to highlight Northeast Nigeria as a thriving and competitive marketplace and also rally critical stakeholders, such as the private sector, government, industry associations, business development agencies, and financial Institutions, to promote economic growth and development in the region.
Anyanwu also said, the Partnership Day would further offer state governments an opportunity to present their initiatives and reforms to enhance the business environment and simplify private sector engagement.
He also stated that the interface will seek to identify shared challenges, draw lessons from experience, pinpoint opportunities, and devise strategies for expanding inclusive and successful businesses in Northeast Nigeria.
There was a presentation by the North East Governors Forum by the Director General of the Forum, Muhammed Yusufari on maximizing investment opportunities through the Forum.
The presentation featured on opportunities that can be leveraged on by private sectors who are looking to invest in the region.
Our correspondent reports that the event attracted relevant participants from Government MDAs, Food Processors, Food Vendors, Small and Medium Scale Entrepreneurs that had their products displayed at strategic pavillion stands.
