Abuja – The U.S. government, through the Agency for International Development (USAID), announces its continuing support to the economic sector in Kaduna State with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) by the USAID Acting Mission Director Julie A. Koenen and His Excellency the Governor of Kaduna Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai.

The ceremony took place on April 5 at Kadinvest 2.0, Kaduna’s annual conference on economic development.  The Kaduna State government used the opportunity to reaffirm its commitment to achieving sustainable economic growth by creating mechanisms to make it easier to do business, and aligning its budget to capital expenditure in order to build both human capital and infrastructure.

This three-year MOU outlines the shared and individual commitments to help drive economic development collaboration between USAID/Nigeria and the Kaduna State Government. These include:

• Strengthening the agriculture sector through increased agricultural productivity of selected value chains, expanded market participation, increased access to finance and an improved business enabling environment

• Developing the capability of Kaduna State Government to manage water and sanitation resources
• Increasing access to and availability of power in Kaduna State\

“The United States commends Kaduna State for its forward leaning efforts to develop sustainable economic programs to help reduce poverty, catalyze market opportunities, and expand private sector investment. Kaduna State and USAID have worked together for a number of years and this MOU will expand and strengthen that partnership,” said USAID Acting Mission Director Julie Koenen.

USAID currently supports activities aimed at agricultural productivity, trade efficiency, innovation, power sector growth -- including renewable energy and increased energy access for residential and institutional consumers, as well as improved management of water and sanitation services. This MOU will strengthen and deepen activities that are expected to come on-line over the next five years helping to reach a multitude of economic growth objectives in Kaduna State.