The vice president of Nigeria, Senator Kashim Shetima, has stated that Taraba State is an agricultural powerhouse of Nigeria that must be fully harnessed to create empowerment and eradicate poverty particularly among women and youths.
Shetima stated this in Jalingo, Taraba State capital on Wednesday while declaring open the Taraba International Investment Summit (TARAVEST).
The vice president, who represented President Bola Tinubu at the occasion, noted that the president has initiated programmes targeted at decentralising industrialisation from the federal government to sub-national governments of Nigeria.
Also, speaking at the occasion, chairman of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, and the chairman United Bank of Africa (UBA), Tony Elemolu, both advised the host of the summit and Taraba State governor, Agbu Kefas, to encourage local investors to thrive.
Dangote, while presenting his speech, urged the governor to prioritise encouraging local investors, stating that foreign investors can only be attracted to Taraba State when local investors are doing well.
“I advice you to start the success of the investment with domestic investors, in any environment where local investors excel, it attract foreign investors and on their own, they strive to come in without wooing them.
“We as Dangote Group, we are ready to come and invest in Taraba State,” Dangote stated.
Also, on his part, the chairman UBA, Tony Elemolu, promised to partner with the Taraba State government to empower the youths.
“We as Transcorp Vompany, will look forward in partnering with Taraba State to make sure your dream of TARAVEST come true. I believe strongly that empowerment is the only way to bring up our younger ones, when you have investment, people live better lives, industrialisation also bring peace and security,” Elumelu stated.
