By Sule Aliyu Bauchi
Former President, Cheif Olusegun Obasanjo has inaugurated the newly completed Ahmadu Bello International Conference Centre (ICC) in Bauchi, where he said Nigeria needs local and international investments to progress.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, Obasanjo described it as a world-class facility capable of positioning the state as a major hub for investment and tourism in Nigeria.
He commended the Bauchi State Government under the visionary leadership of Governor Bala Abdulkadir Muhammad for the initiative, noting that the project was a testament to the state’s vision for growth and global relevance.
“With what we have, we can show the world that we are part and parcel of it,” Obasanjo said.
“What others have and pride themselves on is not more than what we have. Some people don’t even have half of what we have.
This world-class centre can be developed and made one of the tourist attractions in Nigeria”, he added that the newly commissioned facility would promote interaction, tourism, and business engagements, stressing that the state could leverage it to attract both local and international investors.
“What do we need in Nigeria today? We need to mobilize investments from local and international sources,” Obasanjo said.
“I will go anywhere with the governor to get investments for Bauchi State,” he added
On his part, President, Bola Ahmad Tinubu urged local and foreign investors to take advantage of the vast opportunities provided by the Bauchi State Government to drive sustainable economic growth and development.
Represented by the Vice-President Kashim Shettima at the opening of the Bauchi State Economic and Investment Summit President Bola Tinubu assured investors of Nigeria’s stable and profitable business environment under the current administration.
He said that the federal government remains committed to implementing reforms aimed at strengthening economic growth, attracting sustainable investments, and enhancing the ease of doing business across all sectors.
The Vice President commended Governor Bala Muhammad for organizing the summit, describing it as a visionary platform that aligns with the federal government’s agenda for inclusive and diversified economic expansion.
The federal government sees each state as a priority beyond the physical groanings that comes from increased allocations now endeared across the federation.
This is so because an affliction to any state slows down development to other parts of the nation and this is the burden of federalism that we must never allow to slow us down.We must either grow together or tear apart”
“The theme of this summit rebuilding a resilence economy, optimising investment and partnerships is both an advertisement of Bauchi State as a destination for investors and a reminder that none of us can achieve enduring economic growth in isolation.
You cannot escape the laying the bricks across parts of the nation if you intend to build an economy that will endure for generations.
This means creating a safely environment to nuture ideas, this means targeted investments, this means public private cooperation, this means capital projects, incomes and livelihoods for our people ” he said
Also Speaking, Governor Bala Abdulkadir Muhammad reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to providing an enabling environment for investors, citing strategic partnerships with Chinese firms in agriculture, manufacturing, and infrastructure development.
He highlighted that Bauchi State’s investment drive is anchored on transparency, accountability, and innovation, assuring investors of full government support in protecting their interests.
Muhammad noted that the state is leveraging its abundant natural resources, youthful population, and improving infrastructure to position itself as a major economic hub in Northern Nigeria.
Governor Bala Muhammad thanked Obasanjo and Shettima for their presence and support, while reiterating his administration’s focus on education, tourism, and economic development, stating that the conference centre is designed to make Bauchi a premier location for major events in Northern Nigeria. End
