By Taiye Bayode
The Kogi State Government, under the leadership of Governor Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, has initiated the “One State, One Product” project with a round table discussion with representatives of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC).
In a meeting held in Lokoja, the Honourable Commissioner for the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Hon. Muhammed Muktar Shuaibu, emphasised the importance of identifying and showcasing the NEPC to farmers to provide them with the necessary support to kickstart the project.
“We appreciate the efforts of the NEPC in running this agency. Without their cooperation, we wouldn’t have come this far,” stated Hon. Shuaibu.
The State Coordinator, Hajia Amina Abdulmalik, highlighted the potential for Kogi State to leverage the “One State, One Product” agenda, citing the successes of countries like China, the Philippines, Kenya, and Malawi in boosting their economies through similar initiatives.
“With the success of other countries, we have a blueprint on how to meet international standards and make this concept effective in Kogi State,” said Hajia Abdulmalik.
She also emphasised the need for documentation and coding of products to trace them back to their communities, as well as ongoing training and orientation for stakeholders involved in the project.
In response, Hon. Shuaibu thanked the NEPC team and expressed optimism for positive results in the next quarter meeting by June.
