…As Kwara secures French Treasury grant for Lata Grazing Reserve feasibility study

#KwaraRising

On the invitation of the French Minister for European and International Affairs, Mr. Jean-Noël Barrot, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State, alongside fellow Nigerian Governors, participated in a series of high-level engagements in France focused on shared development priorities between Nigeria and France.

Organised by Business France and SEMMARIS, the meetings centered on critical sectors such as economic development, agriculture, youth empowerment, cultural industries, education, and sports. These sessions brought together startups, multinationals, and government officials to strengthen partnerships between both countries, with a focus on investment, innovation, and sustainable growth.

For Kwara State, the engagements offered a platform to advance existing conversations around transformative projects like the Kwara Industrial Hub and the Special Agro-Processing Zone. A major highlight was the French Treasury’s commitment to fund a feasibility study for the upgrade of the 22,000-hectare Lata Grazing Reserve—an important milestone in the state’s food security and livestock development agenda.

Governor AbdulRazaq described the meetings as a continuation of the momentum from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s earlier visit to France, during which the President rallied global support for Nigeria’s economic renewal. “We are seeing concrete results from that diplomatic engagement, and Kwara is proud to be part of that progress,” he stated.

The Governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to partnerships that create jobs, boost local productivity, and position Kwara as a leading hub for innovation and agribusiness in West Africa.