By Ayomide Otitoju
Governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule, has unveiled the 2026 Nasarawa Investment Summit, signalling the commencement of activities for the third edition of the biennial event scheduled to hold from April 26 to May 7.
The announcement was made at the Nasarawa Investment House in Lafia, where the governor outlined the theme, “Bold Transitions: Building a Legacy for Sustainable Futures,” as a reflection of ongoing reforms aimed at attracting investment and strengthening economic institutions.
Sule said his administration had focused on improving the ease of doing business, reforming land administration, and promoting private sector participation across key sectors such as agriculture, mining, manufacturing, and infrastructure.
He noted that these initiatives have positioned Nasarawa among Nigeria’s top ten most competitive states, citing the World Bank ease of doing business rankings.
Describing the 2026 summit as the final edition under his administration, Sule said the event would emphasise institutional continuity and reassure investors ahead of the 2027 political transition.
“We want investors to know that what we have built is not going to disappear after we leave. The institutions will remain. The policies will remain,” he said.
The governor disclosed that John Mahama has been invited to deliver the keynote address, while Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, is expected to attend as Special Guest of Honour.
A major highlight of the summit will be the unveiling of the Lafia Declaration, a voluntary pact to be signed by political stakeholders, investors, and development partners, committing to sustain the state’s economic policies beyond the current administration.
Sule added that the event would feature a structured deal room for investors, a Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) competition and showcase, as well as policy discussions on the Nasarawa Gas Master Plan, which he described as central to the state’s industrialisation drive.
He further revealed that the summit had already begun attracting private sector funding ahead of its formal launch, expressing optimism that investor contributions would surpass government spending.
The governor called on stakeholders, including traditional rulers, political actors, and development partners, to support a unified vision for sustained economic growth in the state.
In his remarks, Managing Director of the Nasarawa State Investment Development Agency, Ibrahim Abdullahi, disclosed that the state has attracted a cumulative $2.3 billion in investments since the summit’s inception in 2022.
He added that between 2022 and 2024, the state recorded $1.8 billion in investments and $1.3 million in technical assistance, while an additional $1 billion was attracted in 2025, with $505 million already realised.
