The Edo State Government is seeking Saudi Arabian investment in agriculture and livestock development, with plans to hold direct talks with potential investors in Riyadh ahead of an international investment summit scheduled for the first quarter of 2027.
The initiative is part of efforts to attract foreign capital, expand agricultural production and stimulate agro-industrial development across the state.
The move followed a meeting between Ohimai Ehijimetor, Edo State Commissioner for Livestock Development, and officials of the Saudi Arabian Embassy in Abuja.
The meeting was attended by Abdulrahman Altwaim, Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Ambassador to Nigeria, and the Yazid Halawani, embassy’s Head of Economic Cooperation. Discussions focused on attracting investors and building partnerships to strengthen agricultural production, livestock development and agro-processing in Edo State.
Speaking after the meeting, Ehijimetor said the embassy had pledged to support the state’s investment drive by helping mobilise investors for the forthcoming Edo International Agricultural and Livestock Investment Summit.
He added that the embassy would facilitate meetings with investment companies in Saudi Arabia, allowing Edo officials to present investment opportunities directly to prospective partners.
“Apart from assisting us in mobilising investors to participate in the forthcoming summit, the Saudi Arabia Embassy is also going to organise meetings in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for us to have one-on-one discussions with investment companies,” he said.
Ehijimetor described the engagement as successful, expressing optimism that it would open new investment opportunities for the state’s agricultural and livestock sectors.
The planned Riyadh meetings are expected to provide a platform for discussions on potential projects and areas of cooperation. However, the government has yet to disclose the names of participating companies, the specific projects under consideration or the potential value of investments.
The state hopes to use the 2027 summit to attract investors capable of financing activities across the agricultural value chain, including primary production, processing and livestock development.
Members of the Edo delegation included Roland Igbadumhe, Special Adviser to the Governor on Livestock Development, and Emmanuel Sule, Senior Special Assistant on Agriculture and Food Security.
Sule is coordinating the state government’s engagements with diplomatic missions as preparations for the summit progress.
For Edo State, attracting foreign investment could help move agriculture beyond primary production into higher-value activities, including food processing, livestock management, storage and distribution. Such investments could also support job creation, improve productivity and strengthen food supply chains.
The livestock sector offers opportunities in animal breeding, feed production, veterinary services, meat processing and cold-chain infrastructure. Investment in these areas could improve efficiency and create additional commercial opportunities for farmers and agribusinesses.
Saudi participation could provide a potential source of capital and partnerships, particularly in food production and agricultural supply chains. However, translating diplomatic discussions into viable projects will depend on the commercial terms, infrastructure availability, regulatory clarity and expected returns offered to prospective investors.
The Edo government has not announced any investment agreement arising from the embassy meeting.
The immediate priority will be to turn the diplomatic engagement into concrete proposals, financing commitments and partnerships capable of delivering measurable benefits to farmers, businesses and communities across the state.
The success of the proposed investment drive will ultimately depend not only on attracting foreign interest but also on creating an enabling environment for investors and ensuring that commitments translate into productive projects on the ground.
