With huge optimism and a firm belief in the vast economic potential of Gombe State, Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, yesterday flagged off the maiden Gombe Investment Summit tagged GoInvest 2022.
“Our position is boosted by Gombe’s strategic location at the center of the north- east subregion and proximity to neighboring countries around the Lake Chad basin, enterprising and peace-loving population, unity in diversity, comparative advantage in agriculture, commerce, and abundance of natural resource like limestone, gypsum, uranium, coal, crude oil, kaolin, etc. Gombe also boast of great potentials in irrigation and hydropower generation through the Dadin Kowa, Balanga and Cham dams.
“To this end, we are working to leverage on digital skills and opportunities to develop Gombe into a regional ICT hub in order to harness the creative energies of our youths. On the other hand, solid and resilient infrastructure is being put in place to serve as catalyst for industrialization and growth, unlock opportunities and deliver sustainable prosperity to the people.
“It is worthy of note that providing an enabling environment for businesses is more than just enacting business reforms. For them to make the desired impacts, such reforms must succeed in reducing the duration, cost and procedure of starting and operating a business.
“DEVAGOM was built around five pillars of economic development, infrastructure, sustainable environment, governance and institutional capacity. All these pillars are fully aligned with the sustainable development goals as set out by the United Nations.” He said with over 60 per cent of the population between the age of 15 and 49, his administration is working to equip with relevant skills and expertise saying Gombe has the potential to meet its human resource needs.
“Today, Gombe is open for business. It is the destination of choice for investment in the north-east sub-region. Not even the more than a decade-old Boko Haram insurgency or the covid-19 pandemic and its attendant global economic meltdown could slow our march towards progress. This is the leadership we promise.