The Edo State Government and the African Development Bank have concluded plans for a strategic partnership focused on urban transportation, infrastructure, urban renewal, youth employment, and human capital development.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State, Fred Itua, stated that the agreement was reached at a high-level technical meeting between the two entities.

The Edo State delegation, led by the Commissioner for Finance, Emmanuel Okoebor, engaged in a business dialogue with a seven-member team from the AfDB, headed by the Vice President for Infrastructure, Industrialisation and Private Sector Development, Dr Solomon Quaynor, and the bank’s Director-General for Nigeria, Dr. Abdul Kamara.

The meeting, according to the statement, took place on the sidelines of the ongoing National Public-Private Partnership Summit at the Presidential Villa and was a significant side event attended by senior officials from various AfDB divisions, including Infrastructure, Human Capital, Climate Change, Private Sector, and Agriculture.

Also present were senior staff from the bank’s headquarters in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

The Edo State presentation was anchored on the state’s development blueprint, “SHINE”, an acronym representing “Security, Health, Infrastructure, Natural Resources, and Education”, which captures the administration’s vision for inclusive and sustainable economic growth under the leadership of Governor Okpebholo.

Discussions focused on structuring AfDB’s potential support to Edo State within a framework of mutual economic benefit. Areas identified for collaboration include strategic investments in transportation corridors, integrated urban development, youth skills acceleration, and green infrastructure, all aimed at unlocking private sector-led growth and transforming urban and rural livelihoods.

Speaking on behalf of the Edo delegation, Okoebor emphasised that the state’s engagement with the bank was not premised on aid or grants but on the foundation of productive partnerships and commercially viable investments.

He said, “Edo State is open for business, not out of desperation, but from a position of strategy, vision, and clear-headed governance. We are seeking investment partnerships that align with our long-term aspirations for shared prosperity.

“The discussion is based on plans for a strategic partnership focused on urban transportation, infrastructure, urban renewal, youth employment, and human capital development.”

The AfDB team expressed strong interest in Edo State’s commitment to reforms and innovations, commending the government’s readiness to engage the private sector and international development institutions to drive impact at scale.

As talks continue, the Edo State Government reaffirmed its commitment to building a future-oriented economy by leveraging strategic partnerships with reputable institutions such as the AfDB.

Other key members of the Edo delegation included Kizito Okpebholo, Special Adviser to the Governor on Investment and Finance; Yamen Mokogwu, Senior Counsel in the Ministry of Justice; and Mr Taiwo Akerele, Executive Director of Policy House Nigeria, who brought valuable policy insight to the dialogue.