A high-level technical meeting between the Edo State Government and the African Development Bank (AfDB) has concluded in Abuja with both parties charting a course for a strategic partnership focused on urban transportation, infrastructure, urban renewal, youth employment, and human capital development.
The Edo State delegation, led by the Honourable Commissioner for Finance, Hon. Emmanuel Okoebor, engaged in a robust business dialogue with a seven-member team from the AfDB headed by Dr. Solomon Quaynor, Vice President for Infrastructure, Industrialization and Private Sector Development, and Dr. Abdul Kamara, the Bank’s Director General for Nigeria.
The meeting, which took place on the sidelines of the ongoing National Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Summit at the Presidential Villa, was a significant side event attended by senior officials from various AfDB divisions, including Infrastructure, Human Capital, Climate Change, Private Sector, and Agriculture. Also present were senior staff from the Bank’s headquarters in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
The Edo State presentation was anchored on the state’s development blueprint, “SHINE”, an acronym representing “Security, Health, Infrastructure, Natural Resources, and Education”, which captures the administration’s vision for inclusive and sustainable economic growth under the leadership of Governor Monday Okpebholo.
Other key members of the Edo delegation included Mr. Kizito Okpebholo, Special Adviser to the Governor on Investment and Finance; Barr. Yamen Mokogwu, Senior Counsel in the Ministry of Justice; and Mr. Taiwo Akerele, Executive Director of Policy House Nigeria, who brought valuable policy insight to the dialogue.
Discussions focused on structuring AfDB’s potential support to Edo State within a framework of mutual economic benefit. Areas identified for collaboration include strategic investments in transportation corridors, integrated urban development, youth skills acceleration, and green infrastructure, all aimed at unlocking private sector-led growth and transforming urban and rural livelihoods.
Speaking on behalf of the Edo delegation, Hon. Okoebor emphasized that the state’s engagement with the Bank was not premised on aid or grants but on the foundation of productive partnerships and commercially viable investments. “Edo State is open for business, not out of desperation, but from a position of strategy, vision, and clear-headed governance. We are seeking investment partnerships that align with our long-term aspirations for shared prosperity,” he stated.
The AfDB team expressed strong interest in Edo State’s commitment to reforms and innovations, commending the government’s readiness to engage the private sector and international development institutions to drive impact at scale.
As talks continue, the Edo State Government reaffirmed its commitment to building a future-oriented economy by leveraging strategic partnerships with reputable institutions such as the AfDB.
