Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State has received a Special Award from the Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) in recognition of the state’s sustained partnership and commitment to agricultural transformation and food security.
The award was presented at the 2026 Nigeria Annual Stakeholders’ Workshop of the Sasakawa Africa Association, held in Abuja.
The workshop brought together senior federal officials, development partners, diplomats and representatives of state governments to explore strategies for strengthening Nigeria’s food systems and enhancing agricultural resilience.
The event, themed “SAA @ 40: Deepening Impact and Expanding Reach at Scale,” coincided with the organisation’s 40th anniversary of operations in Africa.
Governor Yahaya’s recognition highlighted Gombe State’s long-standing collaboration with the Sasakawa Africa Association, which has supported agricultural extension services, improved smallholder productivity, enhanced climate resilience and strengthened rural livelihoods in the state.
The partnership, supported by the The Nippon Foundation, has enabled the implementation of farmer-focused initiatives aimed at improving food security, nutrition and climate-smart agriculture, particularly for women, youth and resource-poor farmers.
Country Director of SAA Nigeria, Godwin Atser, said the award recognised purposeful leadership and measurable results in advancing agricultural development.
“This recognition celebrates a partnership backed by action. Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s leadership reflects the subnational commitment essential for transforming agriculture in Nigeria,” he said.
Receiving the award on behalf of the governor, Director of Agriculture at the Gombe State Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Ibrahim Sajo, expressed appreciation to the organisation and reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to strengthening partnerships that improve farmers’ productivity and livelihoods.
Sajo said the recognition validated the state government’s investments in agriculture as a key driver of economic growth, poverty reduction and sustainable development.
He noted that collaboration between Gombe State and the Sasakawa Africa Association spans several initiatives, including Farmer Learning Platforms, Community Savings and Investment in Agriculture, Private Extension Service Provision and Community-Based Seed Multiplication programmes.
According to him, the programmes have strengthened agricultural production systems, improved farmers’ access to technology, knowledge, quality inputs and markets, and enhanced the capacity of rural institutions.
He added that the partnership has also promoted a pluralistic agricultural extension system involving the private sector, farmer organisations, research institutions and civil society to expand agricultural services across the state.
