Pomp, pageantry, and quiet pride marked the visit of Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA)’s headquarters team to Nasarawa State on Monday, as communities celebrated the organization’s impact on local agriculture and livelihoods.
The visiting delegation, comprising SAA Program Officers Ms. Minako Terao and Ms. Sawa Suzuki, was accompanied by the Nigeria field team led by Dr. Gambo Abdulhamid.
Their tour began at the Nasarawa Agricultural Development Program (NADP) office in Lafia, where they were warmly received by Mr. Daniel Bature, Director of Technical Services, who represented the Program Manager.
From Lafia, the team journeyed 51 kilometers east to Assakio, a community renowned for its thriving rice production and processing industry.
Upon arrival, the delegation paid a courtesy visit to His Royal Majesty, the Osakyo ko Owusakyo, Osula Inarigu Ovedooh, whose support was pivotal to the establishment of the Rice Value Chain Development Centre (RVCDC).
The center, backed by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), has become a hub for advancing rice value chain initiatives in the area.
During an interactive session at the RVCDC, local rice farmers and processors shared their success stories, highlighting job creation, expanded markets, and improved household incomes as key outcomes of SAA’s interventions.
The visit concluded at Bakin Sabon Gida, where members of the Muyi Noma Women Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative Society (MPCS) turned out in large numbers to welcome the delegation with music and traditional dance performances.
Members of the cooperative expressed gratitude for the organization’s support, citing transformative changes in their farming practices, productivity, and livelihoods.
The SAA delegation commended the resilience and enthusiasm of the beneficiaries, reaffirming the Association’s commitment to empowering smallholder farmers and strengthening food systems across Nigeria.
