Governor Umar Namadi is currently in Cairo, Arab Republic of Egypt, attending the Third High-Level Ministerial Meeting on Rice Self-Sufficiency, taking place from October 7th to 9th, 2025, in Cairo and Sakha.
The meeting, themed “Towards Rice-Based Agri-Food Systems Transformation and Delivering on Rice Self-Sufficiency through Peer-to-Peer Learning: The Case of the Arab Republic of Egypt,” is jointly organized by the Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, AfricaRice, the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development (AOAD), and other key continental partners.
In a statement to newsmen, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Hamisu Mohammed Gumel, said the high-level gathering brings together African Ministers of Agriculture, State Governors, and agricultural leaders to share practical experiences on achieving rice self-sufficiency and agricultural transformation.
According to him, the event will showcase Egypt’s remarkable progress in attaining rice self-sufficiency despite its limited water and land resources, offering valuable lessons adaptable to other African contexts.
Hamisu added that Governor Namadi is participating alongside top policymakers, agricultural experts, and private sector stakeholders from across Africa to discuss innovations, policy reforms, and strategic investments aimed at strengthening food security and transforming the agricultural sector on the continent.
The statement explained that, over the 3 day programme, delegates will engage in high level ministerial sessions, technical discussions, and a field visit to Egypt’s renowned Rice Research and Training Centre (RRTC) in Sakha.
During the visit, participants will interact directly with Egyptian scientists and farmers to learn about the country’s advancements in high-yield rice varieties, efficient irrigation systems, and modern post-harvest technologies.
Jigawa State’s participation in this important forum underscores the state’s commitment to agricultural transformation, food self-sufficiency, and consolidating Jigawa’s position as one of Nigeria’s leading hubs for rice production and agribusiness development.
The CPS said that, the meeting is expected to conclude with a ministerial declaration setting a continental roadmap for achieving rice self sufficiency through collaborative research, policy coordination, and targeted investment across the rice value chain.
The statement added that, Governor Namadi is accompanied by senior officials from the state ministry of Agriculture and related agencies.
USMAN MZ
