By Awwal Umar Kontagora The Niger State Government has entered into a strategic agreement with Russia’s largest financial instit...
By Awwal Umar Kontagora
The Niger State Government has entered into a strategic agreement with Russia’s largest financial institution, Sberbank, aimed at driving development across key sectors including agriculture, healthcare, education, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation.
The agreement was formalized during the 28th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum held in Russia, where Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago signed on behalf of the state government, while Timur Kozintsev, Senior Vice President and Head of Sberbank International, represented the financial institution.
The partnership outlines a framework for the development of joint projects in critical sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, mining, cybersecurity, and digital education. It also includes provisions for the design of roadmaps, creation of specialized working groups, and the launching of pilot projects with potential for statewide implementation.
Governor Bago, who is popularly referred to as the "farmer governor" due to his strong agricultural development drive, described the agreement as a milestone for Niger State's economic diversification agenda.
“With this partnership, Niger State plans to implement a number of transformative projects aimed at improving the effectiveness of agriculture, enhancing quality of life, and creating new points of economic growth,” the governor stated.
On his part, Timur Kozintsev expressed optimism about the cooperation, highlighting Sberbank’s global experience in delivering digital solutions and economic development initiatives.
“Our cooperation with Niger State will give the government access to Sberbank’s expertise and innovative products. It will help address regional challenges, improve living standards, and support business growth,” he said.
The agreement is expected to facilitate the digital transformation of Niger State’s economy, using technology-driven solutions to modernize infrastructure and service delivery.
Sberbank, which is recognized as Russia’s largest bank and one of the world’s leading financial institutions, is set to provide technical expertise and financial support to help actualize the partnership goals.
Observers say the deal marks a significant step for Niger State in positioning itself as a forward-looking sub-national government open to global collaboration, innovation, and sustainable development.
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