By Eshioromeh Sebastian
The Edo State Government has begun talks with the United Arab Emirates as it seeks foreign capital for agriculture, livestock and agro-processing, ahead of an investment summit planned for December.
A state delegation, led by the Commissioner for Livestock Development, Ohimai Ehijimetor, met with the UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, Salem Saeed Al Shamsi, at the embassy in Abuja on Monday. Others in the team included Roland Igbadumhe, Special Adviser on Livestock Development; Emmanuel Sule, Senior Special Assistant on Agriculture and Food Security; and Betsy Ikpikhumi, Project Coordinator of the Edo State Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project.
The meeting focused on how UAE investors could participate in Edo’s agricultural value chains. Ehijimetor said the state was looking beyond traditional funding sources to attract partners capable of financing large-scale production, livestock development and processing.
“Governor Monday Okpebholo is very clear about what he wants to achieve in Edo State. We are looking at agriculture not merely as a means of feeding our people, but as a major economic sector capable of creating jobs, attracting investment and generating wealth for the state,” he said.
He explained that Edo has the land and climate to support commercial farming, with opportunities in oil palm, cocoa, pineapple, maize and cassava, as well as cattle, goat, poultry and fish production.
“We have vast opportunities in oil palm, cocoa, pineapple, maize and cassava, while the livestock sector presents enormous prospects in cattle, goat, poultry and fish production. Our responsibility as a government is to create the right environment and connect these opportunities with serious investors,” he added.
The delegation also briefed the ambassador on the Edo International Agricultural and Livestock Investment Summit, scheduled for Abuja in December.
“The summit is not going to be another talk shop. We want to bring investors to the table and show them clearly where the opportunities are, what the government is doing and how they can participate in the development of Edo’s agricultural economy,” Ehijimetor stressed.
He noted that the UAE’s experience in food security, agricultural technology, livestock development and international investment made it a valuable partner.
“The UAE has demonstrated that a country can build food security and a strong investment economy by combining technology, capital and strategic partnerships. We believe Edo can benefit from that experience while offering investors opportunities in areas where we have comparative advantage,” he said.
According to him, Edo is interested in the entire value chain rather than the export of raw commodities.
“We are interested in the entire value chain. It is not enough to produce cocoa, cassava, maize or livestock and then export them as raw commodities. We want to see processing, value addition and industrial activities take place in Edo State,” he added.
The team also pointed to the Nigeria-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, signed in January 2026, as a framework for deeper commercial ties and new investment channels.
Ambassador Al Shamsi commended the state’s initiative and pledged the embassy’s cooperation for the December summit. He also indicated the embassy’s readiness to help mobilise UAE-based investors and business groups to attend.
Ehijimetor described the Abuja meeting as the beginning of a series of engagements with diplomatic missions and potential investors ahead of the summit.
“We are starting a series of bilateral engagements with diplomatic missions and potential investors because we want Edo to be on the radar of international capital. This meeting with the UAE Embassy is only the beginning,” he said.
“We are taking Edo’s investment opportunities to the world. We want investors to see Edo as a place where they can come, invest, produce, process and make sustainable returns,” he added.
Discussion about this post