Atiku Urges Governors to Embrace Private Sector Partnerships for Sustainable Development

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on Nigerian state governors to actively collaborate with private investors, emphasizing that sustainable economic development cannot be achieved through government funding alone.

Speaking on Wednesday at the Taraba State International Investment Summit in Jalingo, Atiku stressed the importance of public-private partnerships as a key driver of growth across the country.

He commended Governor Agbu Kefas for organizing the summit, which brought together local and international investors as well as development partners.

“Your efforts towards promoting economic growth, prosperity, and improved living standards are clearly evident.

This initiative to gather investors, both domestic and international, along with development partners under one roof aligns with your vision to build a prosperous, united, and secure Taraba State, that serves as a model for growth, economic diversification, and sustainable development in Nigeria,” he said.

Atiku encouraged Governor Kefas to deepen engagement with the private sector in order to fully realize Taraba State’s development goals. He argued that such partnerships are essential for mobilizing resources, technologies, and expertise that are otherwise beyond the state’s reach.

“Indeed, if Taraba, aspires to realise its potential and grow its economy sustainably, it must endeavour to leverage private sector resources, including finance, skills and technology.

No Nigerian State has the necessary fiscal and financial space to independently drive growth and achieve sustainable development.

Building strategic partnerships between the State, private investors, local businesses and communities is critical in addressing resources gaps and unlocking the potential of the State to facilitate investments.”

Drawing from his experience as a businessman, Atiku further explained that both foreign and local investments are essential to alleviating poverty and boosting economic resilience, especially in a state like Taraba.

“As a private businessman, I recognize that investments, foreign and domestic, drive economic growth and development.

Private investments will help bridge the resource gaps through additional external resource flows and increased internally generated revenues.

With additional resources, Taraba will better support the poor and vulnerable by empowering them, improving their access to basic services, and ensuring equitable distribution of resources to minimize poverty incidence,”

he added.