The Governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule, has called on the Dangote Group to deepen its investments in the state by taking advantage of its vast mineral resource base.

Speaking at the opening of the 3rd edition of the Nasarawa Trade Fair and Exhibition, the Governor, represented by the Director of Trade in the state Ministry of Trade, Industry and Investment, Dr Ahmed Agbo II, said the state already enjoys a strong working relationship with the Dangote Group.

A statement from Dangote Group on Sunday stated that the governor noted that Nasarawa is endowed with a wide range of mineral resources capable of attracting further large-scale investments from the conglomerate.

The governor commended the Dangote Group for its role in job creation, adding that the company’s Vision 2030 target of $100 billion would significantly support not only small businesses but also the broader Nigerian economy.

The Dangote Group is the major sponsor of the Nasarawa Trade Fair and Exhibition, themed “Unlocking Industrial Synergy: Deepening the Value Chain and Driving Inclusive Growth in Nasarawa State.”

Nasarawa State is home to Dangote’s Nasarawa Sugar Company Limited (NSCL), a backward integration project in the sugar subsector of the Nigerian economy.

When completed, the sugar project is expected to rank among the largest sugar investments on the African continent.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Association of Small-Scale Industrialists has stated that the Dangote Group’s Vision 2030 will provide significant support for Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in Nigeria. This comes as participants continue to visit the company’s pavilion at the ongoing 3rd edition of the Nasarawa Trade Fair and Exhibition.

Chairman of NASSI, Nasarawa State Chapter, Nidan Manasseh, described the company’s achievements as a model for small and micro businesses in Nasarawa and across Nigeria. He disclosed that NASSI is collaborating with the Dangote Group to scale up small businesses in alignment with the company’s Vision 2030.

According to him, the Vision 2030 initiative represents an ambitious target that will have a positive impact on economic activities across the African continent. He said, “Our strategy is to align local enterprise development with large-scale industrial systems in line with the Trade Fair’s theme: Unlocking Industrial Synergy: Deepening the Value Chain and Driving Inclusive Growth in Nasarawa State.”

Manasseh added that through its flagship Empowerment Skill Acquisition Programme, thousands of youths across Nasarawa State have been trained.

Also speaking at the event, Regional Director and Senior Adviser to the President of the Dangote Group, Mrs Fatima Wali-Abdurrahman, said the Trade Fair provides an important platform for the company to interact with key stakeholders and Nigerians interested in exploring business opportunities with the organisation.

The fair continues to serve as a convergence point for industry players, policymakers, and entrepreneurs, fostering collaboration and promoting investment opportunities within the state.