Governor Inuwa Named Champion of Subnational Investment Reform

Gombe State Governor, Inuwa Yahaya has been honoured with a prestigious award as “Champion of Subnational Investment Reform” by the Forum of State Investment Promotion Agencies of Nigeria (FoSIPAN).

The announcement was made at the opening of the Investment Promotion Capacity Development Workshop, held in Abuja.

The two-day capacity-building event, hosted by FoSIPAN in collaboration with Afreximbank, the Centre for International Trade Development (CITD-Miami) and others, brought together senior investment officers from all 36 states and the FCT.

Governor Inuwa, who is also the Chairman of the State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER) of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), was specially recognised for his visionary leadership and commitment to deepening subnational competitiveness, institutionalising ease of doing business frameworks, and championing the establishment of functional Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs) across Nigerian states.

Speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Ms. Aisha Rimi, commended Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s leadership and reaffirmed the commitment of her Commission to strengthening subnational investment ecosystems.

“Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s work through SABER exemplifies what’s possible when reform is backed by clarity of purpose and sustained political will,” said Ms. Rimi.

“At the NIPC, we believe that Nigeria’s investment future lies in the hands of our states. That is why we have partnered closely with FoSIPAN to build a professional, coordinated, and investor-ready network of state IPAs.”

In his keynote address, Gombe Governor represented by Commissioner of Finance and Economic Development, Muhammad Gambo Magaji, emphasised the strategic importance of building local capacity for investment promotion.

“To lift our people out of poverty and accelerate growth, we must position our states to attract and retain both local and foreign investment,” he said.

Earlier in his welcome address, FoSIPAN Chairman and Executive Secretary of the Benue Investment Promotion Agency (BENIPA), Terhemen Johnpaul Kpenkaan, described Inuwa Yahaya as a “trailblazer whose leadership has opened sustainable economic pathways across Nigeria’s 36 states and the FCT.”