Kano State Governor of Nigeria Trade/Investment Mission Visits Wisconsin October 29-Nov 2, 2007

His Excellency Governor Shekarau, the Executive Governor of Kano State, Kano, Nigeria and 15 delegates (members of his cabinet and business practitioners) visited Wisconsin from October 29-November 2, 2007 on a trade mission/investment drive.

Division of Investment and Export staff members Tru Mwolo (front row, far left) and Mary Regel (back row, far right) pose for a photo in front of the Wisconsin Energy Conservation Corporation building in the University Research Park with His Excellency Governor Shekarau, the Executive Governor of Kano State, Nigeria, and the members of his delegation. The group was visiting Madison as part of a weeklong visit to the U.S.

"We're pleased to be a part of the delegation's trip to the U.S.," said Commerce Secretary Mary P. Burke. "We look forward to the opportunity to discuss trade between our countries, which share some remarkable similarities."

Kano is the administrative center of the Kano State and the third largest city in Nigeria, in terms of geographical size, after Ibadan and Lagos. In population, it is the second most populous city (with a population of 3,848,885) in the country, behind Lagos.

Kano shares similar characteristics with Wisconsin. It is a rich agricultural state and has the largest commodity market in West Africa. Kano produces grains, guinea corn, maize, millet, wheat, rice, legumes: groundnuts, and cowpeas. Its livestock are principally sheep, goats and cattle.

Kano is the second largest industrial center in Nigeria after Lagos. Kano has the highest concentration of tanneries in Nigeria. It also has well established vegetable oil mills (Bebeji Oil is the largest oil mill in West Africa), flour mills and textiles industries.

The Nigerian delegation explored opportunities in commodity trading, integrated agricultural farm systems, tannery production and management, manufacturing, agricultural machinery, solid waste management, and biotechnology.

For more information regarding the Nigerian delegation's visit or other inquiries about exporting from Wisconsin, contact: Mary.Regel@wisconsin.gov or Truphosa.Mwololo@wisconsin.gov.

Nigerian Participants:

• His Excellency Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau – Governor of Kano State
• Ahmed Ibrahim Yakasi – Honorable Commissioner for Commerce
• Nour Sani Hanga – Honorable Commissioner of Planning and Budget
• Ibrahim Ado Kurawa – Director-General, Research and Documentation
• Dr. Bashir Shehu Galadanchi – Special Advisor Education and Info. Technology
• Alhaji Isiyaku Umar Tofa – Director, Intercontinental Bank, PLC
• Sani Ado – Special Assistant to the Governor
• Sule Yau Sule – Director of Press and Public Relations
• Kabiru Magami – Chief of Protocol
• Bala Ahmed – Aid de Camp to Governor
• Amino Saleh Abubakar – Entrepreneur of Private Sector

  United States Participants:

• Professor Louis Nzegwu – Executive Director of IBRC, UW-Platteville
• Ibrahim Auwalu – Consul-General of Nigeria, New York
• Nura Rimi – Commercial Consul-Consulate of Nigeria, New York
• Ahmed Naisidi – Entrepreneur
• Abdullahi Shuaibu – Bureau Chief - North America Correspondent, News Agency of Nigeria

-- Barbro McGinn