Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has called on the Dangote Group to scale up its investments in the state by capitalizing on its vast mineral resources. Speaking at the opening of the third edition of the Nasarawa Trade Fair and Exhibition (NASTFE), the governor, represented by the Director of Trade in the state Ministry of Trade, Industry and Investment, Dr. Ahmed Agbo II, emphasized the strong collaboration already in place between the state government and the Dangote Group. He highlighted that Nasarawa is endowed with abundant mineral wealth that can attract further investments from the conglomerate.
Job Creation and Economic Impact
Governor Sule commended the Dangote Group for its efforts in job creation, noting that its ambitious $100 billion Vision 2030 target would significantly boost small businesses and the broader Nigerian economy. The Dangote Group is the major sponsor of the trade fair, which is themed: “Unlocking Industrial Synergy: Deepening the Value Chain and Driving Inclusive Growth in Nasarawa State.” Nasarawa is home to the Dangote Nasarawa Sugar Company Limited (NSCL), a backward integration project in Nigeria’s sugar sub-sector expected to become one of the largest sugar investments in Africa upon completion.
Support for SMEs
The Nigerian Association of Small-Scale Industrialists (NASSI) stated that the Dangote Group’s Vision 2030 would support small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) across Nigeria. Participants continue to visit the company’s pavilion at the ongoing trade fair. Speaking on the sidelines, the Chairman of NASSI, Nasarawa State Chapter, Comrade Nidan Sambo Manasseh, described the company’s achievements as a model for small and micro businesses in the state and country. He disclosed that NASSI is partnering with the Dangote Group to scale up small businesses in line with the Vision 2030 agenda, which he called an ambitious plan capable of positively impacting economic activities across Africa. “Our strategy is to align local enterprise development with large-scale industrial systems in line with the trade fair’s theme,” he said. Manasseh added that thousands of youths across Nasarawa have been trained through the group’s flagship Empowerment Skill Acquisition Programme (ESAP).
Engagement Platform
Also speaking, the Regional Director and Senior Adviser to the President of the Dangote Group, Mrs. Fatima Wali-Abdurrahman, said the trade fair provides a valuable platform for engagement with key stakeholders and Nigerians interested in exploring business opportunities with the company. The event continues to attract participants eager to learn about the group’s initiatives and potential partnerships.
