SAO Capital, currently serving as Transaction Advisor for the Kwara State Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) Project, organized a three-day technical workshop with the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU). 

The workshop, held in Ilorin from September 8 to 10, was designed to strengthen the team’s capacity to deliver on the state’s ambitious agro-industrial development plans. Sessions focused on practical strategies for project execution, stakeholder engagement, and investment readiness.

The Honorable Commissioner for Livestock Development, Oloruntoyosi Thomas, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Mohammed Yahaya, affirmed the government’s strong confidence in the SAPZ initiative. 

She noted that the project is central to Kwara’s push to shift agriculture beyond subsistence production into processing and value addition, creating a stronger foundation for economic growth and social impact.

The Commissioner commended Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for positioning Kwara among the first states to commit fully to the SAPZ program and highlighted the investments in infrastructure already in place to support its rollout.

Omotola Agbi, Team Lead and acting CEO of SAO Group, emphasized the broader vision, stating that the SAPZ project places Kwara in a stronger position within Nigeria’s agricultural economy. 

She added that beyond the technical discussions, the workshop was about building alignment and clarity to ensure successful delivery.

Together with key stakeholders, the training explored how to operationalize the Malete Agro-Industrial Hub and strengthen Agricultural Transformation Centers across Afon, Olodan, Kinikini, and Gidan Mangajiya, laying the groundwork for stronger value chains in dairy and beef, private sector linkages, and sustainable economic transformation.

From practical sessions on project management and stakeholder engagement to in-depth discussions on agro-industry and processing, the conversations centered on one thing: developing the skills and systems that will make the SAPZ vision a reality for people on the ground. Reflecting the priorities of international partners such as the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and the SAPZ National Coordination Office.