Lafia
The Nasarawa State Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Angola to strengthen cooperation in agriculture and education, as part of efforts to accelerate socio-economic development in the state.
Governor Abdullahi Sule signed the agreement on Tuesday in Lafia, describing the MoU as a strategic partnership that would yield tangible benefits for the people of Nasarawa State once implementation begins.
The governor said the partnership followed the identification of shared interests and comparative advantages between Nasarawa State and Angola, particularly Bengo Province, noting similarities arising from their proximity to national capitals—Abuja and Luanda respectively.
Governor Sule commended the technical teams from both sides for their commitment, adding that areas of cooperation were carefully selected based on strengths in agriculture, mining, oil and gas, education and health.
He disclosed that Nasarawa State had identified areas where Bengo Province holds advantages in agriculture, as well as sectors where Nasarawa could offer expertise, stressing that such complementarities would drive mutual growth.
According to the governor, one of the major outcomes of the engagement was the establishment of a “One-Stop Shop Investment House,” designed to ease business processes and attract investors from Angola and other countries into Nasarawa State.
Speaking earlier, the Governor of Bengo Province, Dr. Maria Antonia, described the signing of the MoU as a historic milestone, noting that the agreement marked a deliberate step toward achieving shared economic, environmental and social development goals.
She said the partnership symbolised the longstanding brotherhood and solidarity between the peoples of Nigeria and Angola, adding that the agreement would further strengthen bilateral cooperation between both countries.
“This agreement reflects our shared commitment to move forward together and achieve sustainable development for our people,” she said.
In a related development, Governor Abdullahi Sule and Dr. Maria Antonia jointly inaugurated the One-Stop Shop Investment House, located at the headquarters of the Nasarawa State Investment Development Agency (NASIDA) and the Multi-Door Courthouse in Lafia.
