Stakeholders pledge support to Kaduna Govt’s investment initiatives

The Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) and International Finance Corporation (IFC) said on Thursday that they would partner with Kaduna State Government in agriculture and power for sustainable development.

They made the commitment in separate remarks at the ongoing Kaduna Economic and Investment Summit, holding in Kaduna.

According to them, the state with an estimated population of about 10 million people, has huge investment potentials in agriculture and power.

“In agriculture, we will partner in agricultural financing, infrastructure and land rehabilitation, while in power we will be looking at waste management for electricity generation,” Uche Orji, NSIA Chief Executive Officer, said.

He said that the state could access the NSIA’s 40 per cent funding for investment in local infrastructure.

Similarly, Eme Essien, IFC Country Manager, said that the corporation would also partner with the state in the two sectors.

“We are particularly interested in sola energy as a critical infrastructure for businesses.

“We want to also see where Kaduna state has competitiveness in agriculture and mining and then invest, ” Essien said.

Also, the Senior Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari, on Social Investment, Maryam Uwais said the Federal Government would equally partner with the state to improve the well being of the people.

Uwais disclosed that federal government would shoulder part of the responsibility of offering free meal to primary pupils.

She announced that the government would soon role out the Cash Transfer Scheme for the most vulnerable persons in the country.

Meanwhile, key stakeholders in economic development have also pledged their support towards making the state an investment destination.

In their separate remarks, the stakeholders commended El-Rufai for organizing the summit that brought investors from all over the globe to appraise the various investment opportunities in the state.

The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Paul Arkwright said a clear implementation of the state’s five-year development plan would deliver inclusive growth and serve as development model for other states.

He said the British government currently has 21 programmes in the state, and pledged to support the state’s socio-economic development initiative.

The United States Deputy Economic Counsellor, Joel Kopp, said the USAID has spent 600 million dollars on various programmes in Nigeria.

He described Kaduna state as one of the state’s in the country that make concerted effort to address its economic challenges through a vision to move the state to greater heights by attracting investors.

“We will continue to partner and support Kaduna state in its goal of making the state an investment destination in the country,” Kopp said.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), Alhaji Bukar Kyari, said good governance was fundamental in transforming the well-being of the people.

He commended the state government for having a clear vision and itemising priorities to achieve positive change and better the lots of people.
Kyari pledged NESG’s support in achieving the set goals.

Similarly, World Bank Country Representative, Rachid Benmassaoud, described the summit as inspiring, adding that the bank would partner with state to make its vision attainable.

Head of European Union’s Trade and Economic, Fillippo Amato said that to attract investment, the state must invest hugely in the development of infrastructure and security.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the summit has as its theme: “Moving Kaduna into the Global Economy.”