Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has ramped up the state’s partnership with the World Bank, building on a portfolio of eight major World Bank-funded projects worth a total of $885 million.
During a high-profile courtesy visit by the World Bank’s Regional Vice President for Western and Central Africa, Mr. Ousmane Diagana, and his delegation, Sani emphasized his administration’s commitment to enhancing the impact of these projects, with a clear focus on extending their scope.
The governor underscored the transformative role the World Bank has played in addressing critical issues across education, healthcare, infrastructure, agriculture, and social welfare in Kaduna. He highlighted the Adolescent Girls’ for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) Project, the Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (SURWASH) Programme, and the Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Recovery Stimulus Programme (NG-CARES) among the projects that have significantly improved the state’s development trajectory.
Sani also expressed interest in expanding World Bank support to new areas, including the Sustainable Power and Irrigation in Nigeria (SPIN) Project, the Resilient and Accessible Microfinance (RAM) Project, and the North West Human Capital Development Regional Conference.
Stakeholders believe that the initiatives align with the governor’s vision for a sustainable and diversified economy for Kaduna, particularly in sectors such as power, microfinance, and human capital development.
Mr. Ousmane Diagana commended the governor’s strong leadership and political will, acknowledging the efficiency and effectiveness of Kaduna’s collaboration with the World Bank. Diagana also praised the outgoing World Bank Country Director, Dr. Ndiame Diop, for his contributions to the success of ongoing projects in Nigeria.
An economist, Mr. Maxwel Dogara noted that the total funding committed to the World Bank projects exceeds $885 million describing it as a proof to Kaduna’s strategic focus on development and its institutional readiness to leverage international partnerships for long-term growth.
“Governor Sani remains steadfast in his belief that strengthened systems, consistent leadership, and effective coordination will position Kaduna as a model for successful donor-funded project execution in Nigeria. He reiterated his administration’s readiness to continue collaborating with the World Bank to scale up the impact of these initiatives, as the state explores new avenues of collaboration for the future”, he added.