By Julius Nsikak
Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has said that genuine development must go beyond statistics and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) figures, and should instead focus on improving citizens’ lives and building a sustainable future.
Mohammed, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Aminu Hammayo, stated this in Lagos on Thursday during the unveiling of the Bauchi State Economic and Investment Summit, scheduled for 8 and 9 October.
He described the summit, themed “Rebuilding a Resilient Economy: Optimising Investment and Partnerships”, as a turning point in positioning Bauchi as a leading investment destination.
“Growth is not an end in itself. Serving the human person and his overall wellbeing should constitute the be-all and end-all of our investment choices.
“Our vision is prosperity that is inclusive, sustainable, and felt in the daily lives of our people,” he said.
The governor explained that the summit would showcase Bauchi’s economic opportunities, promote private sector participation, and foster collaborations with both local and international investors.
He stressed the importance of partnerships with Lagos, which he described as the heartbeat of Nigeria’s economy, expressing optimism that the summit would attract fresh capital inflows, create jobs, and transform the state into a centre of shared prosperity.
“This is not just about business; it is about creating jobs, reducing poverty, and giving our people a better quality of life,” he added.
Also speaking, Alhaji Mohammed Gamawa, Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Investment, said Bauchi was positioning itself as a hub for investment across livestock, agriculture, solid minerals, ICT, and renewable energy.
According to him, the creation of the Ministry of Livestock Development by the governor demonstrated a strong commitment to strengthening food security while boosting poultry, dairy, and aquaculture production beyond local consumption to exports.
“We are deliberately building capacity around the livestock value chain, not only for local needs but also for export development,” Gamawa noted.
He disclosed that Bauchi had been selected as the proposed site for a Special Oil and Gas Free Economic Zone in Kolmani, following hydrocarbon exploration by the NNPC, a project expected to strengthen industrial linkages and open up fresh opportunities.
On solid minerals, Gamawa said Bauchi was endowed with over 100 documented deposits, including limestone, kaolin, gold, zinc, and iron ore, with ongoing discoveries continuing to expand the state’s mining potential.
He emphasised that the government aimed to move beyond artisanal mining into large-scale industrial processing to achieve global competitiveness.
Gamawa further highlighted Bauchi’s youthful population, strong ICT policies, renewable energy prospects, and ongoing infrastructural developments in markets, housing, and security, all of which, he said, provided an enabling environment for investors.
He assured that the state was not only offering public-private partnerships but also “bankable PPPs” that guarantee mutual benefits.
Similarly, Mr Aderemi Bolaji, a director in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, commended the state government’s drive to attract investment, describing Bauchi as an “investors’ destination.”
He urged the government to align its investment agenda with the Federal Government’s ongoing economic reforms and encouraged prospective investors to disregard negative narratives often pushed by competitors.
