Investment Summit Ends on High Note with Dinner, Awards, Book Launch
By Yahaya Idris, Lafia
The 2026 Nasarawa Investment Summit climaxed on Wednesday night with a colourful dinner that brought together investors, development partners and key stakeholders in a celebration of the state’s economic strides.
The evening featured goodwill speeches, awards presentations and the launch of a book documenting the achievements of Governor Abdullahi Sule since assuming office in 2019.
Earlier in the day, Vice President Kashim Shettima commended Nasarawa State’s vast natural resources and praised Governor Sule for what he described as prudent and transparent leadership that has positioned the state as an emerging industrial hub in West Africa.
He also expressed confidence in the state’s political future, describing Senator Ahmed Wadada Aliyu as a potential successor who could consolidate on the administration’s gains by 2027.
The summit, now in its third edition since 2022, was organised by the Nasarawa Investment Development Agency (NASIDA) under the Sule administration.
A major highlight of the evening was the launch of a book authored by veteran journalist, Donatus Nadi, publisher of The Eyewitness Newspaper.
The publication chronicles sector-by-sector achievements of the Sule-led administration.
Senator Wadada, who served as the chief launcher, donated 1,000 copies of the book valued at ₦10 million for distribution to tertiary institutions across the state.
He described the publication as a vital historical record that would serve as a reference point for future leadership and development.
“Documenting achievements is critical. Any accomplishment not properly recorded risks being forgotten,” he said, while commending Governor Sule’s leadership and the institutional reforms that led to the creation of NASIDA.
The senator also lauded the agency’s Managing Director, Ibrahim Abdullahi, for his role in driving investment initiatives, noting that the state’s industrial and infrastructural progress since 2019 deserves to be preserved for posterity.
Reaffirming his optimism about Nasarawa’s economic prospects, Wadada expressed confidence that sustained partnerships and strategic investments would further strengthen the state’s development trajectory.
In his remarks, Vice President Shettima linked Nasarawa’s progress to broader economic reforms by the Federal Government, noting that Nigeria’s economy has rebounded significantly, with a GDP growth rate of 3.87 per cent in 2025.
He added that fiscal indicators, including foreign reserves and balance of payments, have improved markedly.
He described Nasarawa’s reforms—such as the establishment of NASIDA, the One-Stop Investment Centre, the State Electricity Regulatory Commission and the Nasarawa Infrastructure Park—as critical frameworks for sustainable growth.
Governor Sule, in his address, described the 2026 summit as the last to be hosted under his administration and a defining moment in the state’s economic journey. He said the forum was designed to consolidate previous gains and lay a solid foundation for future growth.
He recalled that the 2022 summit, themed “Diamond in the Rough,” showcased the state’s resource potential, while the 2024 edition, “Industrial Renaissance,” focused on key sectors including agriculture, mining, manufacturing and infrastructure.
According to him, the 2026 edition aims to institutionalise reforms to ensure continuity beyond his tenure.
Also speaking, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwale, described Nasarawa as a model for converting reforms into tangible investments. She estimated the state’s economy at about $12 billion, citing significant investments in solid minerals, rare earth processing and an expanding project pipeline.
In his opening remarks, NASIDA Managing Director, Ibrahim Abdullahi, said the agency’s Business Enabling Reform Action Plan had resulted in over 50 improvements in the state’s business environment, including tax harmonisation, digital regulatory processes and strengthened public-private partnerships.
The two-day summit, themed “Bold Transitions: Building a Legacy for a Sustainable Future,” concluded with awards of excellence presented to Governor Sule, corporate organisations including Olam, Premium Mining Company, and other investment partners for their contributions to the state’s economic development.
