A technical assistant grant of $523,823 (N186 million) has been signed on Saturday, 7th April, 2019 between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Islamic Development Bank (ISDB) Group, in Marrakesh, Morocco.
In a statement released by the Federal Ministry of Finance on Sunday, 7th April, 2019 stated that the deal was signed by the Finance Minister, Zainab Ahmed, on behalf of Nigeria while the president of the Islamic Development Bank (ISDB) Group, Bandar Hajjar, signed on behalf of the Group.
The technical assistant grant deal was sealed at the 44th Islamic Development Bank (ISDB) Group Annual Meeting in Marrakesh, Morrocco on the theme, ‘Transformation In A Fast Changing World: The Road To SDGs’.
According to Zainab Ahmed, the technical assistant grants would be used to address capacity building/equipment and logistics upgrade in the Hajj Commission. She also added that the technical assistant grant will also be used for the improvement of cotton, textile and garment value chain in the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment.
In her statement, she said that the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) will get $243,823 while the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment will get $280,000 by stating thus; “The Technical Assistant Agreement Grant of $243,823.0 to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria for capacity building/equipment and logistics upgrade. Technical assistant grant of $280,000 will go to the Federal Ministry of Industry Trade and Investment for the improvement of cotton, textile and garment value chain.”
Zainab Ahmed, seized the opportunity to inform the participants of the efforts of state governments in Nigeria towards boosting of agriculture and food production by saying, “State governments in Nigeria are adopting cluster farming which has eased access to funds by farmers, increased growth and allows access to facilities without collateral.”