By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse
In line with the Renewed Hope Economic Development drive of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Jigawa State Governor, Umar Namadi, has stepped up international engagement efforts aimed at attracting strategic investment to the state.
Governor Namadi held high-level bilateral talks with Qatar’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Yousef Mohammed Ahmed Al-Haill, at the Qatari Embassy in Abuja. The discussions focused on strengthening cooperation in education, agribusiness investment and social empowerment initiatives.
The meeting, disclosed in a statement by the Governor’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Photography, Mr. Muhammed Isma’el, reinforces the administration’s commitment to its 12-Point Agenda, which prioritises economic expansion, human capital development, agricultural transformation and infrastructure renewal.
According to the statement, the diplomatic engagement forms part of Governor Namadi’s broader strategy to cultivate international alliances capable of unlocking fresh opportunities for Jigawa’s youth population and fast-growing agribusiness sector.
During the talks, Namadi spotlighted Jigawa’s agricultural strength, strategic geographic position and expanding skilled workforce. He assured the Qatari envoy that the state has instituted business-friendly policies designed to safeguard investments and guarantee ease of doing business.
A key highlight of the discussions was the ongoing collaboration between the Federal Government and Jigawa State to upgrade Dutse International Airport to full cargo status. The planned upgrade is expected to drive agro-exports, strengthen trade logistics and integrate Jigawa more competitively into global markets — a central objective of the Renewed Hope agenda.
The Governor noted that enhanced export infrastructure would stimulate rural economies, expand value chains, create jobs and significantly increase internally generated revenue.
In his response, Ambassador Al-Haill expressed Qatar’s willingness to deepen cooperation with Jigawa in areas of shared interest, particularly education and investment. His remarks signal a promising step toward expanding bilateral economic ties.
Analysts observe that the engagement reflects growing synergy between federal economic reforms and sub-national development strategies, positioning Jigawa as an emerging investment hub in Northern Nigeria.
As the Namadi administration advances its reform-oriented blueprint, stakeholders remain optimistic that the budding partnership with Qatar could translate into tangible gains — from scholarship opportunities and educational infrastructure upgrades to expanded agro-processing capacity and sustainable economic growth.
