Jigawa State and IITA Sign Strategic Partnership to Transform Agricultural Value Chains

The Jigawa State Government, under the leadership of His Excellency Mallam Umar A. Namadi, FCA, has signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) to advance agricultural innovation, strengthen key value chains, and unlock new investment opportunities across the State.

The partnership—facilitated by the Jigawa Agricultural Transformation Agency (J-ATA) and supported by InvestJigawa—marks a major step forward in implementing the State’s 12-Point Agenda, particularly in food security, agribusiness competitiveness, and climate resilience.

Present at the signing were:

• His Excellency Mallam Umar A. Namadi, FCA, Executive Governor of Jigawa State
• Aisha Shehu Mujaddadi, Director General, InvestJigawa
• Senior officials from J-ATA
• Dr. Simeon Ehui, Director General, IITA and CGIAR Regional Director for Africa

Driving Agricultural Transformation Through Innovation

The MoU establishes cooperation in critical areas that will elevate the productivity and commercial viability of the cassava, soybean, and maize value chains, including:

🔹 Development of improved, climate-resilient crop varieties
🔹 Integrated pest and disease management
🔹 Soil mapping and soil-health intelligence systems
🔹 Value chain strengthening and agro-processing support
🔹 Youth agribusiness development

These interventions directly support Jigawa’s mission to modernize agriculture and create a more competitive environment for investors.

Leadership Commitment

His Excellency Mallam Umar A. Namadi, FCA reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to evidence-based agricultural development:

“We cannot confront the challenges of climate change and agricultural system transformation with outdated approaches. This partnership with IITA brings world-class research, technology, and innovation that will boost productivity, empower our farmers, and attract new investments into Jigawa State.”

The Director General of InvestJigawa, Aisha Shehu Mujaddadi, emphasized the Agency’s role in facilitating strategic partnerships, supporting agribusiness investors, and ensuring that the State’s value chains remain attractive and competitive.

Invitation to Establish an IITA Substation in Jigawa

In a major move to position Jigawa as a regional hub for agricultural innovation, His Excellency Mallam Umar A. Namadi, FCA formally invited IITA to establish a regional Substation in the State. Jigawa will provide the required land and infrastructure, enabling large-scale research, seed development, technology diffusion, and youth-focused initiatives across the North-West and Sahel region.

A 5-Year Framework for Transformative Impact

The agreement will run for five years, creating opportunities for long-term collaboration in research, agribusiness, market linkages, climate-smart agriculture, and private sector investment.

InvestJigawa—led by Aisha Shehu Mujaddadi—will continue to play a central role by:

✔ Facilitating investor interest in key value chains
✔ Providing market intelligence and investment advisory
✔ Strengthening linkages between farmers, processors, and markets
✔ Supporting innovation adoption across the State