By Abdullahi Alhassan
The United Nations (UN), European Union (EU), German Government and other international development partners have intensified efforts to attract private-sector investment to Borno State as part of measures to accelerate economic recovery, create employment opportunities and restore livelihoods in communities affected by insurgency.
The development partners made their commitment at the third Borno State Private Sector Engagement and Investment Roundtable held on Thursday in Abuja, where more than 50 prospective investors gathered to explore business opportunities and investment prospects in the state.
Representatives of the United Nations, European Union and German Embassy reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Borno’s transition from humanitarian intervention to sustainable economic development through increased private-sector participation.
The investment initiative, championed by Governor Babagana Umara Zulum’s administration, commenced with a roundtable in Lagos, which focused on financing bankable projects and strengthening small and medium-sized enterprises.
The second edition, held in Kano, concentrated on investment opportunities in agriculture, livestock production, fisheries and infrastructure, while the Abuja engagement seeks to deepen partnerships and translate investment interests into concrete economic outcomes.
Speaking at the event, the representative of the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office in Nigeria, Thembekile Dube-Nanbe, challenged development partners and prospective investors to move beyond expressions of interest and work towards actualising viable investment proposals.
She urged stakeholders to identify commercially sustainable opportunities, mobilise the necessary capital and establish partnerships capable of delivering measurable benefits to the state.
“Let us identify viable investment opportunities, mobilise capital, establish lasting partnerships, and commit to measurable results,” Dube-Nanbe said.
Similarly, the European Union Head of Human Development, Laila Ben Amor Mathieu, reaffirmed the Union’s commitment to Borno State, recalling its interventions during the state’s most challenging years through humanitarian assistance, stabilisation programmes and recovery initiatives.
She, however, stressed that government funding and development grants alone would not be sufficient to finance the scale of reconstruction and economic transformation required, noting that private-sector capital was critical to achieving sustainable recovery.
“Grants and public budgets alone will not finance recovery at the scale Borno needs. Private capital must play its part, and the role of us partners is to make that possible,” Mathieu stated.
She disclosed that prospective investors could contribute to the proposed Borno State Durable Solutions Trust Fund or pursue commercially viable ventures supported by government incentives, including access to land, industrial hubs and favourable tax measures.
Mathieu also encouraged investors to identify promising projects for further assessment, establish partnerships with indigenous businesses and prioritise opportunities that empower women and young people.
“Borno is becoming an investment story. The European Union is proud to be part of it,” she added.
In her remarks, the Head of Development Cooperation at the German Embassy, Dr Karen Jansen, commended Governor Zulum for his administration’s efforts in restoring communities, rehabilitating critical infrastructure, rebuilding public services and creating an enabling environment for private investment.
Jansen urged prospective investors to sustain their interest in the state, expressing confidence in Borno’s economic prospects and assuring the government of Germany’s continued partnership in its reconstruction and development efforts.
She emphasised the importance of mobilising private capital through innovative financing arrangements, including blended finance, to complement traditional development assistance.
“Mobilising private sector investment, including through blended finance, will be essential to complement development cooperation and support Borno’s sustainable reconstruction,” she said.
**Zulum Assures Investors of Business-Friendly Reforms**
Meanwhile, Governor Zulum has called on local and international investors to take advantage of emerging economic opportunities in Borno State, assuring them of his administration’s commitment to providing a secure, transparent and business-friendly environment.
The governor, who was represented at the roundtable by his Chief of Staff, Dr Babagana Mustapha Mallumbe, said improvements in the security situation and ongoing institutional reforms were positioning the state for a gradual transition from emergency humanitarian interventions to sustainable economic growth.
He identified commercial agriculture, livestock production, fisheries and manufacturing as priority sectors with considerable investment potential, while urging financial institutions to expand access to affordable credit for small and medium-sized enterprises.
According to him, government has a responsibility to provide the necessary security, infrastructure and regulatory framework, while the private sector remains central to wealth creation, employment generation and long-term prosperity.
“Government’s role is to build the foundation, establish the security, and create the regulatory framework. But the private sector is the ultimate engine of wealth creation, job opportunities, and lasting prosperity,” Zulum said.
The governor further disclosed that the Borno State Investment Promotion Agency was implementing measures to simplify business registration and investment procedures, supported by land administration reforms, fiscal incentives and public-private partnership frameworks designed to provide greater protection and confidence for investors.
He maintained that his administration was determined to remove unnecessary bureaucratic bottlenecks, strengthen investor confidence and establish mutually beneficial partnerships that would accelerate economic reconstruction.
The Abuja roundtable represents another strategic step in the Zulum administration’s drive to leverage international partnerships and private-sector resources to rebuild Borno’s economy, expand productive activities and create sustainable livelihood opportunities for its people.
