Gombe
Inuwa Courts North African Investors, Pushes African-Led Development Agenda for Gombe
Inuwa Courts North African Investors, Pushes African-Led Development Agenda for Gombe
Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has made a strong case for homegrown African partnerships as he hosted a high-level delegation of Tunisian and Moroccan investors to a state dinner in Gombe, signalling fresh momentum in the state’s drive for transformative investments in water, energy and agriculture.
The delegation, operating under the Tunisia Consortium for African Development (TUCAD), had earlier conducted extensive technical inspections of strategic infrastructure across the state. Their tour covered the Daɗinkowa Dam, the Muhammadu Buhari Industrial Park, key water facilities and other investment corridors, with a focus on identifying viable, long-term and bankable projects.
Speaking at the dinner attended by Tunisia’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Mohsen Antit, Governor Inuwa Yahaya described the engagement as a shining example of South-South cooperation and a practical pathway to African self-reliance.
“Nigeria and Tunisia are developing nations. This is a South-South relationship. If Africans join hands and cooperate, the sky will be our limit,” the governor said. “We must not always look outside the continent for solutions from those who may not fully understand our realities or share in our aspirations.”
He stressed that sustainable development across the continent would be best achieved through partnerships built on shared identity, mutual respect and business collaboration among African nations.
“As Africans, we are one people. Strengthening this kind of partnership through business, cooperation and shared purpose is the surest way to unlock our collective potential,” he added.
The governor noted that the delegation’s field assessment reaffirmed Gombe State’s vast but largely untapped investment potential, particularly in agriculture, renewable energy, water resource management and industrialisation.
Strategically located at the heart of Nigeria’s North-East and sharing boundaries with five states, he said Gombe enjoys a competitive advantage as a commercial and logistics hub with access to a broad regional market.
Highlighting the state’s natural assets, Inuwa Yahaya pointed to its three major dams, expansive arable land and youthful, enterprising population as critical enablers for agro-industrial growth and sustainable energy projects.
“We are open for business. Gombe is ready to work with credible partners who are committed to shared prosperity,” he assured the visiting investors.
In his remarks, Ambassador Mohsen Antit praised the governor’s vision and development-focused leadership, affirming the credibility and technical competence of the North African investors.
“The CEOs you are meeting represent some of the most reputable conglomerates in Tunisia. We are proud to collaborate with our African brothers and support Gombe’s development aspirations,” he said.
He noted that Tunisia’s expertise in water systems, energy, agriculture and infrastructure development presents valuable opportunities for knowledge transfer and joint ventures in Gombe State.
The ambassador also extended a formal invitation to Governor Inuwa Yahaya to participate in the Financing Investment and Trade in Africa (FITA) Forum scheduled to take place in Tunis in April, describing the event as a strategic platform for mobilising financing and expanding investment networks.
Earlier, the Mission Coordinator and Chief Executive of African Network Centre Ltd, Alhaji Ahmed Shuaibu Gara-Gombe, explained that the delegation’s visit had broadened the scope of engagement beyond water and energy to include irrigation, renewable energy, construction and industrial development.
He noted that the technical studies conducted during the visit would lay the groundwork for structured project implementation, especially following the signing of Memoranda of Understanding between the parties.
With the renewed push for intra-African collaboration, Gombe State appears poised to position itself as a model for African-led development partnerships—where shared vision, regional solidarity and strategic investment converge for sustainable growth.