Kogi Enterprise Development Agency (KEDA) has taken a giant step towards the establishment of what it called “Agro Industrial Factory” for casava processing into garri.
KEDA which went into partnership with Combined Agricultural and Renewable Energy Company Limited (CAREC) by signing a joint Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) yesterday, July 3, in Lokoja, capital of Kogi State, also vowed to embark on rice processing amongst others.
A statement by KEDA Information Officer, Joseph Adama said that the partnership would lead to the establishment of incubation centres for Pharmaceuticals, model Agro Industrial factory for casava processing into garri, rice processing, cashew nut processing and other derivatives by Women Cooperatives etc.
The statement said that the MoU would create mutual understanding and intentions of the parties to establish a strategic collaboration to support the agency’s MSME development initiatives .
The scope of the MOU, according to the statement, includes joint establishment of incubation Centre for nursing start ups for selected Entrepreneurs to establish their businesses, joint incubation for startups in assembling of electronic digital devices, portable solar lamps and generators, inverters, battery energy storage packs.
The statement quoted the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of KEDA, Alhaji Muhammed Kadiri Okeji as saying that the MoU would foster the growth of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises(MSMEs) within the Kogi State economy.
The Managing Director stressed the need to partner with private sector organisations to develop the state because government cannot do all things for the people.
He said that with the partnership, efforts will be geared towards ensuring that the project is pursued vigorously, even as he expressed optimism that the MoU when fully implimented, would put smile on the faces of teeming women and Youths across the state
Also speaking via zoom after the signing of the MOU, the vice chairman, Engr. Jatto A .Adams on behalf of the chairman of CAREC expressed appreciation to the kogi state government for the partnership and commended the KEDA Management for the signing of the MOU.
He noted that the signed document would boost the activities of KEDA in the realisation of the state government’s objectives to boost economic activities, foster industrialisation and create more entrepreneurs.
A director in CAREC, Mallam Yakubu Lawal, signed on behalf of his organisation while the MD/CEO signed for KEDA.
In a media chat, Mallam Lawal promised speedy implementation of the agreement, stressing that as stakeholders, they would join hands to see to the development of the state.
At the event from KEDA were the Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Usman Zubair; Executive Director Operations, Akin Akinola and Head of Research and Development, Daniel Arome and the Directors from CAREC were Alhaji Ahmed Musa Ododo; IT and Corporate Services, Umar Sulaiman and Project planning and Development, Engr. Enesi Abdulrasheed.
