Kaduna State has become the first in Nigeria to launch a Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ), a move hailed as a game-changer for agricultural development and economic growth. The landmark project was celebrated on Tuesday during a visit by Dr Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), to the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House in Kaduna.
Adesina praised Governor Uba Sani's commitment to agriculture, commending the state's dramatic increase in agricultural funding from N1.4 billion to N74 billion. "You didn't just put your money where your mouth is—you put your money where your mind and your body are," he said, drawing applause from the audience.
He described Kaduna as a trailblazer in agricultural transformation. "You are the first state to launch the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone in Nigeria. This is a great day for us all," Adesina said. He also expressed admiration for the state's warm reception and leadership, adding humorously, "Not only did we get hospitality here in Kaduna, I think we got maternity too—because your Deputy Governor is a medical doctor."
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Adesina announced AfDB's plans to deepen its support for Kaduna through expanded school feeding programmes linked to the SAPZ, as well as investments in healthcare, digitalisation, water, and sanitation. "We're proud to partner with a government that listens, leads with compassion, and delivers results," he added, describing Governor Sani as "a listener, a unifier, and above all, a doer."
Governor Sani, in return, called Adesina "a blessing to Nigeria, Africa, and humanity," citing his transformative agricultural policies, especially the E-Wallet initiative that supported over 15 million smallholder farmers. "That initiative could have addressed financial exclusion and insecurity, especially in Northern Nigeria," he noted.
Sani linked Kaduna's economic strength to its agricultural sector, which he said contributes about 42% of the state's GDP and provides 60% of employment. "This is why we raised the agriculture budget to meet the Malabo Declaration's 10 percent target—the first sub-national government to do so," he added. He called the SAPZ launch a vital step toward economic inclusion and food security.
