It looks like the Sokoto State Government has got something to show for Governor Tambuwal’s visit to China accompanying President Buhari. This is because the state government has just signed an agreement with Henan Province that will see the Chinese province establish a demonstration farm in Sokoto (if the agreement is fully implemented).
Henan Province are one of the biggest producers of agricultural machinery in China, so if enough effort is put into making this agreement work, it could be one of the best things that ever happened to Sokoto State in terms of agricultural/economic development.
I hear you say, ‘Yeah yeah, that is how they (politicians) go and sign MOUs all over the place and at the end, the MOU gathers dust somewhere and is never implemented.
That may be true, but if a leader is committed to bringing the best to his people, he can achieve great things. For instance, Nigeria was once the biggest exporter of palm oil in the world, that was until the Malaysian government sent some experts to buy some palm oil seedlings from us in the 1960s.
The Malaysians were serious, and guess what, from nothing, they overtook us and became the biggest exporter of palm oil in the world, while we became a net importer.
So, if the Sokoto State Government is serious, they can use the opportunities in Tambuwal’s visit to China to diversify their economy, to the benefit of Sokoto in particular, and Nigeria in general. accompanying President Buhari on foreign trips must see themselves as the salesman-in-chief of their states, and try to bring back something tangible to show their people.
Governors accompanying President Buhari on foreign trips must see themselves as the salesman-in-chief of their states, and try to bring back something tangible to show their people. They shouldn’t just see it as an opportunity to junket, curry favor and network.
Good step taken by Governor Tambuwal
All the best