Our Reporter
In line with his industrialisation agenda, Governor Abdullahi Sule who came from the private sector had barely two months of assumption of office, inaugurated a 14-member Nasarawa State Investment and Economic Advisory Council.
Inaugurating the council at the government house, governor Sule said the occasion was a fulfilment of an earlier pledge encapsulated in his inaugural speech, his solemn commitment to make Nasarawa state a hub for investment opportunities and sustainable economic development.
“It is in furtherance to our commitment to transform the state into a high pedestal of development that we consider it imperative to set up the Nasarawa State investment and Economic Advisory Council to appraise the state economic potentials, including sources of revenue generation and advise the government on appropriate policies and framework that will enhance the investment opportunities and economic development of the state,” Governor Sule said
The council members are Prof Konyisola Ajayi (SAN) as chairman, Abubakar Balarabe Mohammed (SAN), Dr Adeyemi Dipeola, Chief Robert Orya who is a former Managing Director, Nigerian Export-Import Bank, Gen.Ahmed Abdullahi Aboki (rtd), and Dr Faisal Shu’aib as members.
Other members include, Dr Lazarus Angbazo, Dr Kassim Hussein, QS Adamu Aliyu, Hon Imaan Sulieman Ibrahim, Dikko Tahir Bala, Dr George Manuike, Dr Roseline Kela and Ibrahim Abdullahi, the special adviser on investment to the governor will serve as secretary.
Guided by 14 terms of reference, members consisting of tested individuals, are expected to leverage on their experience and network to unlock any possible constraints that might have hindered the progress of the economic potentials of the state and facilitate the inflow of domestic and foreign investments to Nasarawa state.
Most significantly, the council is also expected to support and facilitate the implementation of the Nasarawa State Economic Development Strategy (NEDS), a well thought out economic strategy that will place the state among the top three most competitive states in the country by 2023.
READ ALSO: Engr Abdullahi Sule: A governor walking his talk to industrialise Nasarawa state.
On his part, chairman of the Council, Prof Ajayi commended the governor for assembling a team representing the finest and best from across the country, stressing that members of the council are happy to take Nasarawa state forward.
“We are gathered here today in pursuit of the economic advancement and development of Nasarawa State, based on the burning passion of His Excellency to have transformational impact that will make this basket of raw talents and opportunity, not just one of the largest economies in the nation, but also one of the best states with social mobility, economic advancement, educational progress, peace and security, responsible, responsive public and private sector actors,” he said
Prof Ajayi is a leading Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and managing partner of Olaniwun Ajayi LP, a leading law firm in Africa.
He has over 35 years of experience in banking, project finance, capital market, power infrastructure among others, he has played a key role in the Nigerian banking sector reforms, as well as the power sector privatisation.
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