…underscores the imperative of economic diversification
Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State recently highlighted the remarkable advancements his administration has made across key sectors including mining, agriculture, education, and human capital development.
During a panel discussion at the Nigeria Economic Summit in Abuja, jointly organized by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the African Development Bank (AfDB), Governor Sule provided an overview of the state’s developmental achievements.
Reflecting on the state’s educational landscape, he recalled that when his government took office in 2019, Nasarawa ranked 28th out of 36 states in WAEC enrollment and examination outcomes, placing it near the bottom nationally.
To reverse this trend, the administration introduced a policy to fully subsidize WAEC registration fees for all students, a strategy that catapulted Nasarawa to 5th place in the most recent WAEC performance rankings.
Shifting focus to the mining sector, Governor Sule emphasized transformative reforms, notably an executive directive prohibiting the export of raw minerals following the discovery of significant lithium reserves. This policy enforces local processing and value addition of mineral resources.
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This approach has attracted both international and local investors, culminating in the creation of Nigeria’s largest lithium mining and processing facility, with a daily output capacity of 3,000 metric tons. Furthermore, a second plant, designed to process 6,000 metric tons daily, is scheduled for commissioning by President Ahmed Bola Tinubu.
Governor Sule also highlighted the critical connection between investment and workforce capacity building, revealing that proceeds from mining companies’ signature bonuses are being channeled into training programs for local workers.
On the education front, he acknowledged ongoing efforts to upgrade the state’s 1,400 public primary schools, noting that the proportion meeting acceptable standards has risen from 10 percent to nearly 50 percent, while stressing the need for continued progress.
His administration remains committed to education, consistently allocating over 26 percent of the annual budget to this sector.
Turning to agriculture, the Governor underscored its pivotal role in national food security, especially given that it accounts for 26 percent of Nigeria’s GDP.
He outlined Nasarawa’s agricultural projects, beginning with the successful cultivation and sale of rice from 2,000 hectares to Olam. The state is now expanding its efforts by clearing an additional 1,300 hectares of previously unused land for farming.
Governor Sule expressed confidence in the state’s agricultural prospects, supported by federal storage infrastructure in Lafia, and urged all Nigerian states to maximize their agricultural assets.
He reiterated that sustainable economic growth in Nigeria hinges on each state leveraging its distinct advantages in sectors such as mining and agriculture, thereby fostering a diversified and resilient economy.
“Nigeria’s strength lies in the agricultural potential inherent in every state. No region will encounter insurmountable obstacles if it commits to developing its agricultural sector,” he affirmed.