Business leaders and influential figures, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, industrialist Aliko Dangote, and entrepreneur Tony Elumelu, have called on Taraba State Governor Dr. Agbu Kefas to prioritise local investors in a bid to unlock the state’s economic potential.

Speaking at the 2025 Taraba International Investment Summit held in Jalingo yesterday, the leaders said that empowering domestic investors is crucial to attracting foreign investment and driving sustainable economic development.

The summit, themed around unlocking investment opportunities in Taraba, saw a convergence of political leaders, clerics, and business moguls who all echoed a common message: a thriving local investment climate is the bedrock of national economic growth.

“Encouraging local investors is the foundation for drawing in international investment,” Elumelu stated. “Government must provide an enabling environment where businesses can grow, create jobs, and address issues such as food insecurity and youth unemployment.”

Supporting this stance, former Vice President Atiku noted that local investors are the key drivers of economic transformation.

He urged the Taraba State government to initiate policies that would diversify the economy and fully exploit the state’s vast agricultural and mineral resources.

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, also lent his voice, emphasising the need to complete the long-delayed Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project. He noted that reliable electricity is essential for any meaningful development in the state and across Nigeria.

In a similar vein, the Archbishop of Abuja, Most Rev. Dr. Ignatius Kaigama, called on Taraba citizens to rise above religious and ethnic divisions to create a peaceful atmosphere conducive to investment and development.

Representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the summit, Vice President Kashim Shettima reiterated the federal government’s commitment to economic inclusion across all regions.

“Every part of this country is blessed with human and natural resources. No region can develop in isolation. Taraba is an agricultural hub that must be harnessed for the benefit of all,” he said.

The vice president also stressed the importance of security and energy access, urging the state government to tackle these areas to boost investor confidence. “Power and security are critical in creating a viable economic environment,” Shettima added.

Summit participants agreed that Taraba has all the necessary factors of production—land, labour, and capital—but that the government must play the role of enabler, facilitating a friendly environment for businesses to thrive.

The consensus was clear: for Taraba State to become a magnet for both local and foreign investment, it must first build confidence among domestic investors through stable infrastructure, effective policies, and security.