Taraba State recently hosted Nadia Balgobin, a Switzerland-based sustainability and ethics expert, on an exploratory visit to assess opportunities for collaboration across key sectors including coffee, tea, education, healthcare, and infrastructure development.

Her visit reflects growing international interest in Taraba State’s potential as a hub for sustainable agricultural development and value chain expansion, particularly within Nigeria’s emerging coffee and tea sectors.

Strategic Engagements with Government and Institutions

Upon arrival, Mrs. Balgobin was received by the Secretary to the Government of the State (SGS) and engaged in a series of high-level consultations across relevant ministries, departments, and agencies.

A key highlight of the visit was her roadmap presentation at the SGS Conference Hall, where she outlined potential frameworks for collaboration, focusing on sustainability-driven development, institutional partnerships, and long-term capacity building.

She also paid courtesy visits to:

• The Chairman, Taraba State Internal Revenue Board
• The Vice Chancellor, Taraba State University

These engagements explored how proposed initiatives could align with existing state priorities and institutional mandates.

Focus on Research, Climate, and Agricultural Systems

As part of her tour, Mrs. Balgobin visited the Biotechnology Resource Centre, Jalingo, where discussions centered on research collaboration and climate-responsive agriculture.

She encouraged stronger linkages between:

• Taraba State University
• The Tropical University of Agriculture

with particular emphasis on addressing climate change challenges in Sardauna Local Government Area, a region with strong potential for coffee and tea cultivation.

Role of Investment Facilitation

The visit was supported and coordinated by Mr. Peter Yuguda, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Investment, who facilitated engagements between the delegation and key state stakeholders.

This coordination underscores Taraba State’s openness to credible international partnerships that can contribute to sustainable development and economic diversification.

Implications for the Coffee and Tea Sector

For stakeholders within Nigeria’s coffee and tea ecosystem, including NACOFTAN, the visit represents an opportunity to:

• Build international technical linkages
• Explore sustainability-driven value chain development
• Strengthen institutional and research partnerships
• Position Taraba as a credible origin for high-quality Arabica coffee and tea

A Foundation for Future Collaboration

Mrs. Balgobin’s visit is best understood as an exploratory and framework-setting engagement, aimed at identifying pathways for structured collaboration between Taraba State and international partners.

As discussions evolve, there is potential for the development of pilot initiatives and partnership models that could support sustainable growth across multiple sectors.

NACOFTAN’s Perspective

NACOFTAN welcomes engagements that strengthen Nigeria’s integration into global sustainability and agricultural development networks. Strategic collaborations of this nature contribute to building the institutional, environmental, and economic foundations required for a competitive coffee and tea industry.