In a major development for Taraba State’s economic landscape, industrialist Alhaji Aliko Dangote and business magnate Tony Elumelu pledged significant new investments during the Taraba International Investment Summit (Taravest) held in Jalingo.
Both leaders highlighted the state’s vast agricultural and energy potential as prime areas for development.
Dangote emphasized the necessity of fostering local investment as a foundation for attracting foreign capital, stating, “Foreign investors will only come when they see that local investors are thriving. The government must encourage domestic investments first.”
Tony Elumelu, whose initiatives span the Tony Elumelu Foundation and Transcorp Group, declared readiness to invest in Taraba. “We are ready to invest in Taraba through Transcorp and the Tony Elumelu Foundation. UBA will also continue to expand its footprint and financial services across Africa,” he said. He further stressed the importance of agriculture in addressing food security and job creation, noting, “Investment helps to create jobs, curb unemployment, improve security, and empower people.”
Vice President Kashim Shettima, representing President Bola Tinubu, hailed Taraba as an agricultural powerhouse with untapped hydroelectric resources, particularly the Mambila Dam, and urged accelerated industrialization to accommodate Nigeria’s expanding population.
Governor Mohammed Bago of Niger State, speaking for the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, highlighted Taraba’s agricultural advantages and the transformative potential of strategic investments.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, praised Governor Agbu Kefas for maintaining peace in the state and stressed the importance of safeguarding security gains to boost investor confidence. He also called for urgent power sector investments to stimulate industrial growth.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar compared the current investment efforts to Nigeria’s post-1999 economic rebuilding, urging the government to leverage private sector collaboration and focus on infrastructure, education, and health.
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, commended the governor for attracting major investors and urged him to capitalize on Taraba’s strengths by advancing investments in agriculture, tourism, and other critical sectors.
The summit thus sets the stage for Taraba’s emergence as a key economic hub through enhanced collaboration between government and private investors.
