The Yobe State Government, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has unveiled plans to revitalize its economy through the export of sesame seeds and livestock.
This initiative aims to enhance employment opportunities and increase foreign exchange earnings for the state.
Speaking during the courtesy visit of UNDP Resident Representative Elsie Attafuah to the Government House in Damaturu yesterday, Governor Mai Mala Buni, emphasized Yobe’s significant potential in the agriculture and livestock sectors.
The governor stated that the state boasts a population of 7.8 million cattle, sheep, and goats, as well as a large sesame seed production capacity.
“This administration had mapped out investment opportunities across the state, comprising huge potentialities for jobs and wealth creation among farmers and herders,” Buni stated.
He further noted that the state’s abundant resources present a viable pathway to attracting investors and positioning Yobe as a global hub for exports.
Buni reiterated the government’s commitment to utilizing these resources to promote international trade, create wealth, and enhance foreign exchange earnings.
“As a leading state in sesame seeds and livestock production, the government is investing in the two sectors to make the state an international hub for exports to earn foreign exchange,” he said.
The governor also reflected on the challenges posed by a decade-long insurgency, which had hindered development efforts and limited support from international partners due to accessibility issues in affected areas.
With the insurgency largely contained, the state is now prioritizing economic growth alongside its ongoing rehabilitation and resettlement programs for internally displaced persons (IDPs).
“With improved security, the state is now shifting its attention towards economic development,” Buni remarked.
He highlighted strategic infrastructure projects aimed at facilitating trade and investment, including the commencement of cargo haulage services at the newly operational Cargo Airport in Damaturu.
These initiatives, he explained, are designed to stimulate economic growth, provide an enabling environment for investors, and address the root causes of rural-urban migration among the state’s youth and women.
“The enabling investment environment; could also address rural migration of youths and women into the cities and towns,” Buni added.