Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal has called for deeper collaboration among government, businesses and investors to unlock private capital and deliver inclusive economic growth across the state.
Lawal made the appeal while delivering a Special Policy Address at the 2026 CEO Forum organised by the Global Compact Network Nigeria in Lagos. The high-level gathering, themed “Financing a Dignified Future: Aligning Business Action, Policy and Capital,” brought together chief executives, senior government officials, industry leaders, diplomats, trade commissioners and international development partners from key sectors including oil and gas, energy, manufacturing, construction and infrastructure.
Speaking against the backdrop of intensifying competition among Nigerian states for selective private capital, the governor outlined the critical factors that convert economic opportunities into bankable, investable propositions. He stressed that attracting investment goes beyond merely identifying opportunities. It requires deliberate creation of the right conditions, sound policies and trusted partnerships that give investors the confidence to commit capital while ensuring those investments translate into tangible benefits for citizens.
Lawal explained how his administration is actively bridging the gap between available economic potential and actual investment inflows, with a strong emphasis on building investor confidence and prioritising outcomes that improve livelihoods in Zamfara.
The forum served as a platform for participants to explore practical ways of aligning business strategies, public policy and capital deployment. Discussions centred on identifying businesses, sectors and projects with high potential that currently struggle to access financing, and on the measures needed to make them more attractive to investors.
Organisers introduced the concept of the “Dignity Dividend,” examining how investment-led growth can deliver better jobs, stronger businesses, higher productivity, local value creation and broader economic participation. The event also focused on securing actionable commitments and partnerships that participating institutions can advance within the next six to 12 months.
Notable speakers included chief executives from First Bank Group, Access Bank, Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, the Nigeria Economic Summit Group, Nigerian Exchange Group, Chellarams Plc, SecureID Group and Greenwich Merchant Bank Plc, among others.
The session is expected to culminate in a live showcase of the Business Value and Sustainability Platform (BVSP), a standing coalition of business, capital and policy actors designed to sustain ongoing dialogue. The platform is also anticipated to help shape Nigeria’s private-sector engagement during the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Week.
Governor Lawal’s participation underscores Zamfara’s push to strengthen its economic foundation, attract productive investment and expand opportunities that support sustainable livelihoods and wider participation in the state’s economy.
