By Sanee Yarima
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially declared the 2025 Taraba State International Investment Summit (TARAVEST) open, urging everyone to contribute to attracting investors to the state.
The event took place at the TY Danjuma Government House in Jalingo on Wednesday, May 21, 2025.
The summit, titled “Taravest,” is the first of its kind in the history of Taraba State and brought together a diverse array of stakeholders, industry leaders, foreign investors, and prominent dignitaries, including the representative of Ghana’s President, John Mahama, as well as traditional and religious leaders.
The theme for the summit is “Unlocking Taraba’s Investment Potentials—Advancing Agriculture, Energy, Mining, and Industrialization (AEMI) for Sustainable Growth and Development.”
Addressing the international gathering in Jalingo, President Tinubu, represented by his Vice, Senator Kashim Shettima, urged Nigerians to set aside all forms of division and unite for the collective betterment of society.
He emphasized that poverty does not recognize religion, tribe, or ethnicity and that Nigerians must strive for peace among one another.”
The Nigerian leader commended Governor Agbu Kefas for his vision of attracting investors to the state and assured him of the Federal Government’s full support.
“We are now in the era of Governance, the era of politics has passed. Governor Kefas you are really a StarBoy.” Tinubu.
Additionally, Senator Shettima praised Kefas for appointing his friend Tony Elumelu to be the leader of the organising committee of the summit.
Ghana’s President, John Mahama, who was represented at the event, advised Governor Agbu Kefas to implement the same strategies used in Ghana for exporting natural resources, highlighting that the country has been mining gold for over fifty years.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, in his remarks, urged the state government to prioritize security, enhance infrastructural development, hold regular stakeholder meetings, and engage in meaningful consultations.
Atiku said building partnerships with private Investors and local businesses is critical in addressing the resource gap in Nigeria’s states.
Governor Agbu Kefas stated that the summit aims to attract both local and international investors to Taraba for capital and human development, assuring that the state is safe for investment.
Earlier in his remarks, the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi, encouraged Governor Kefas to concentrate on utilizing human and natural resources and emphasized that the outcomes of the summit should lead to a celebration of the state’s strengths.
However, the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Dr. Sa’ad Abubakar III, along with business leaders Alhaji Aliko Dangote and Mr. Tony Elumelu, stressed the importance of fostering domestic investment as a means to transform not only Taraba State but also Nigeria and its economy.
Furthermore, Archbishop Ignatius Ayu Kaigama of the Catholic Church emphasized the importance of religious tolerance among Nigerians and the need for politicians to fear God in their dealings.
Bishop Kaigama praised Governor Agbu Kefas for his vision of attracting investors to the state for development.
