By Isaac Ukpoju
Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has unveiled the 2026 Nasarawa Investment Summit, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to sustaining economic reforms and strengthening investor confidence ahead of the 2027 political transition.
Sule performed the unveiling on Thursday in Lafia, marking the commencement of activities for the third edition of the biennial summit scheduled for May 6 to May 7.
The governor said that the summit, with the theme “Bold Transitions: Building a Legacy for a Sustainable Future,” would consolidate gains from previous editions while charting a clear pathway for the next phase of the state’s economic development.
He noted that his administration, over the past seven years, had implemented reforms aimed at improving the ease of doing business, strengthening institutions, and positioning the state as a competitive destination for investment.
According to him, the reforms, covering investment facilitation, land governance, green industrialisation and infrastructure financing, have significantly transformed the state’s investment landscape.
Sule added that the state now ranks among the top 10 most competitive in Nigeria in the World Bank Ease of Doing Business ranking.
He described the investment summit as a strategic platform for communicating the state’s economic vision, mobilising partnerships and promoting private sector-led development.
“The 2026 summit is not just a continuation of our investment drive, but a deliberate effort to institutionalise reforms and ensure continuity beyond political cycles,” he said.
The governor explained that the summit would focus on reinforcing policy stability, strengthening institutions and providing assurances to investors on the predictability of governance.
He said the event would bring together policymakers, investors, development partners and political actors to assess progress and define priorities for sustained growth.
Sule said the summit would feature strategic discussions, policy dialogues, investment showcases, and a structured deal room to facilitate business engagements.
He added that a special transition dialogue involving governorship aspirants across political parties would also be held to discuss sustaining reforms and investment momentum.
The governor further disclosed that the summit would produce a “Lafia Declaration,” a voluntary commitment by key stakeholders to ensure continuity of economic reforms beyond the current administration.
He announced that President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana and Vice President Kashim Shettima of Nigeria were expected to attend the summit as special guests.
Earlier, Mr Ibrahim Abdullahi , the Managing Director of the Nasarawa Investment and Development Agency (NASIDA), said that the summit had become a major driver of the state’s economic growth since its inception in 2022.
Abdullahi said the state attracted about 2.3 billion dollars in investments between 2022 and 2025, alongside 1.3 million dollars in technical assistance.
He added that out of the one billion dollars recorded in 2025 alone, about 505 million dollars had already been actualised.
According to him, the achievements were driven by deliberate reforms, including the establishment of key institutions, enhancement of public procurement processes, and development of human capital and ICT infrastructure.
Abdullahi said that the 2026 summit would address concerns around policy continuity and investment security, especially in view of the forthcoming political transition.
He added that political leaders, private sector actors and other stakeholders had been engaged to ensure broad-based participation and confidence in the state’s economic direction.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Nasarawa Investment Summit was first held in 2022, followed by the second edition in 2024, as part of efforts to attract investments and drive industrialisation in the state. (NAN)
