Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State and the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF)
have sought collaborations with the French government to harness their technical expertise in mechanizing agriculture, boosting industrialization, exploring solid minerals; and improving water supply, sanitation as well as environmental development.
Gov. Tambuwal, who was represented by the state Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Hon. Bashir Gidado, disclosed this at a special meeting he held Wednesday with the French Ambassador to Nigeria, Jérôme Pasquier at the NGF secretariat in Abuja.
The visiting French Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness,
Franck Riester and the Country Director of the Agence française de développement (AFD) or French Development Agency, Pascal Grangereau were also at the meeting which deliberated on issues about strengthening of existing bilateral partnerships and collaborations.
Also at the meeting were the AFD’s Head of Regional Economic Department, Pascal Furth and many other top French diplomats.
Many Governors, Deputy Governors were physically present while others joined virtually.
AFD, which was established in 1998 and operates in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, the Caribbean and the French overseas territories, is a public financial institution responsible for the implementation of the policy defined by the French Government to fight poverty and promote sustainable development.
The agency, together with the European Union (EU) and the World Bank, has partnered with Nigeria since 2008 and committed over EUR 2bn in over 30 development projects in the energy, transport, drinking water and rural development sectors.
Muhammad Bello
Special Adviser Media and Publicity to the Governor
April 15, 2021
Sokoto
