Distinguished Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada has called upon investors and prospective investors in Nasarawa State to prioritize their corporate social responsibility towards host communities.
The Senator, representing Nasarawa West Senatorial Zone, emphasized this during his speech at the Nasarawa State Investment Summit.
Senator Wadada highlighted the paramount importance of education, underscoring that it is fundamental to global leadership and progress.
He praised the first democratically elected Governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Adamu, for recognizing the critical role of education by establishing the state-owned university in Keffi. Additionally, he commended the former national Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Abdullahi Adamu, for founding the private Phoenix University in Agwada, Kokona Local Government.
Acknowledging the contributions of both past and present state leaders, Senator Wadada lauded former Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura as the "Architect of Modern Nasarawa State" and praised current Governor Engineer Abdullahi Sule as the "Engineer of Nasarawa State" for their significant developmental strides.
Minister of State for Police Affairs, Imaan Suleiman, also addressed the summit, asserting the commitment to enhancing the Nigerian police force to meet international standards.
She assured potential investors of the nation's security and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's dedication to intelligence-driven policing.
The summit witnessed the signing of new business deals with three companies: Boxmore, Earth Metal, and Nasarawa for the Uke Gold Project, and Project Boxmore, Nasarawa, AFC, and SMDF for Lithium and Zinc Project Development. Additionally, Lee Group and Nasarawa committed to a $200 million investment in rice and sugarcane production and processing.
The World Bank has ranked Nasarawa as the third most business-friendly state in Nigeria, while the President of the African Development Bank, Akinwumi Adesina, highlighted ADB's $2.3 trillion investment in Nigeria.
He noted Nasarawa's potential in agriculture and the opportunity to export food production across Africa.
Adesina emphasized the need for economic diversification, particularly in water and sanitation sectors.
