On May 29, 2025, Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State will mark his six years of visionary leadership, a tenure defined by unprecedented progress, inclusive governance, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.
It is a statement of fact that citizens of the state are witnessing unprecedented development strides being recorded within the six years Governor Sule has been at the helm of affairs of Nasarawa State. Since his inauguration in 2019, Governor Sule is transforming Nasarawa into a guiding light of development, leveraging his private-sector expertise, integrity, and passion for public service.
Indeed, as the Governor marks his sixth-year anniversary in office, his tenure stands out as a testament to visionary leadership rooted in innovation, transparency, and accountability.
Formerly a key private sector player, Governor Sule has redefined governance by merging corporate efficiency with public service ethos, driving unprecedented progress across critical sectors. This analysis explores his unique blend of integrity, openness, and strategic innovation, which has positioned Nasarawa as a beacon of sustainable development in Nigeria.
It is visible for all to see, the inroads recorded in infrastructure, health, agriculture, education, investment and industrialization, and most significantly in accountability and inclusive governance.
All these feats were made possible only because of Governor Sule’s purposeful leadership that is driving sustainable development across the state.
Scholars define purposeful leadership as a modern leadership paradigm that integrates an organization’s core purpose with ethical, value-driven decision-making to inspire collective action and sustainable success. Rooted in both individual and organizational alignment, this approach transcends traditional profit-centric models by emphasizing a deeper “why” that resonates with stakeholders.
A passage from Alice In Wonderland by Lewis Carroll says, “If you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there,” with the simple quote illustrating the importance of knowing your desired destination in life and work.
Governor Sule is a leader with a purpose. He is a leader who not only knows the road but is determined to reach a predetermined destination. He came prepared having undertaken a holistic study of the prospects and challenges of the state before being elected governor in 2019.
The Governor came into office with a clear vision of desired outcomes as well encapsulated in the Nasarawa Economic Development Strategy (NEDS), essentially because great leaders understand that a clear and meaningful purpose is the foundation for authenticity, motivation, and well-being throughout their leadership journey.
Just like Forbes pointed out, Governor Sule is a leader whose actions align with his purpose, and he remains consistent with his responses, even in a rapidly changing environment. He is so far demonstrated uncommon ability to adapt to meet the ever changing dynamics as presently obtained in the country.
Suffice to say, however, that the Nasarawa Economic Development Strategy (NEDS) has been a cornerstone of Governor Sule’s transformative agenda, serving as a structured blueprint for the state’s socio-economic progress since 2019.
The document provides a cohesive roadmap that prioritizes infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture, and industrialization, ensuring coordinated interventions across critical sectors. For instance, Governor Sule’s administration leveraged NEDS to guide investments in projects like the multi billion naira new state secretariat complex, construction of the Lafia flyover and underpass, and upgrades to healthcare facilities, which align with the strategy’s infrastructure and human capital goals.
The strategy emphasizes leveraging Nasarawa’s natural resources, such as lithium, cassava, and solid minerals, to drive industrialization. Under NEDS, the state attracted over $450 million in lithium processing investments (e.g., Avatar New Energy Materials and Ganfeng Lithium), positioning Nasarawa as Nigeria’s lithium hub. Similarly, the cassava processing plant and partnerships with firms like LOVOL for agricultural mechanization reflect NEDS’s focus on value addition in agriculture.
For the records, Avatar New Energy Materials established presently the largest lithium mining and processing factory in Africa located in Nasarawa Local Government Area, valued at USD100m.
The strategy’s focus on education, healthcare, and gender equity has translated into tangible outcomes. Over 10,000 hectares of rice farms, scholarships for students, and free rural healthcare initiatives are direct implementations of NEDS’s human capital pillars. The launch of the Gender Transformative Human Capital Development Policy further underscores efforts to empower women and reduce disparities.
Under his leadership, Nasarawa has witnessed about 539 kilometers of roads constructed or rehabilitated, including the strategic 25km Mararaba-Udege Road and urban renewal projects in Lafia, Karu, and Akwanga. These projects have reduced travel time, boosted investments and commerce, as well as connected rural communities.
Leveraging his corporate network, Governor Sule attracted over $500 million in investments, notably in agriculture and mining. The 2022 partnership with the Dangote Group to establish a $150 million sugarcane processing plant in Umaisha is expected to spark job creation and rural industrialization. Similarly, the Nasarawa Technology Village, a PPP with Cisco Systems, has trained 15,000 youths in digital skills since 2023.
Most significantly, a milestone was achieved in transparent budgeting, with Nasarawa becoming the first state to publish real-time budget expenditures on the Nasarawa Open Governance Portal. Citizens can track allocations for projects like the Lafia Ultra-Modern Market, completed within budget and timeline in 2023.
Again, worried by the continuous shortchanging of Nasarawa State through the exploitation of mineral resources and exporting these outside the state in raw forms, Governor Sule passed an executive order which is revolutionizing the mining sector across the entire country. Through this order, prospective miners are mandated to perform primary processing of their products in the state before exporting.
– Abare is the Senior Special Assistant on Media to Governor Abdullahi Sule
Also, through the creation of an enabling environment for foreign investors, Governor Sule attracted over $950 million in lithium processing investments. Companies like Avatar New Energy Materials and Ganfeng Lithium established plants capable of producing 4,000 metric tonnes daily, generating 4,000 jobs and positioning Nasarawa as a hub for clean energy minerals.
More recently, Jiuling Lithium Mining Company disclosed that it is investing over $200 million in a lithium processing factory in Endo Community, Nasarawa State.
In the area of agriculture, Nasarawa State is evolving into an agribusiness hub, with the state government under Governor Sule. The state government is actively promoting agricultural development through various initiatives and partnerships, including Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), with the governor investing in agricultural technology and mechanization to improve efficiency and productivity.
He distributed 30 new tractors across the state’s 13 local government areas as part of a larger initiative aimed at boosting food production, enhancing security operations, and improving government functionality. In a rather unprecedented move, the state government is revitalising agriculture by cultivating 10, 000 hectares of land for rice in Jangwa, Awe Local Government Area.
In the area of education which has been the cornerstone of his administration, Governor Sule has surpassed the 26 percent benchmark set by the UNESCO as annual budgetary allocation for education, with over 300 primary and secondary schools renovated, with 50 new classrooms equipped with digital tools. The governor has recruited over eight thousand new teachers across both tertiary institutions and secondary and primary schools, in line with the recommendations of a baseline survey of public schools.
Under the health sector, Nasarawa has become a model for pandemic management, with 98% vaccine coverage and mobile clinics for rural areas, while over 500,000 residents have been enrolled in the Nasarawa Health Insurance Scheme, reducing out-of-pocket expenses by 70%.
Is it security or oil and gas, Governor Sule’s administration has redefined governance through a blend of private-sector efficiency, technological integration, and institutional reforms. His six-year journey exemplifies how integrity, innovation, and inclusivity can transform subnational governance.
By merging private-sector dynamism with unwavering accountability, he has elevated Nasarawa’s stature nationally. As accolades pour in—from the NEAPS Governance Excellence Award to UNDP commendations—the governor remains focused on his vision: a state where prosperity is rooted in transparency.
