The 2nd Kano Economic and Investment summit was held at the coronation hall of the Kano state’s Government house. Just like every summit all over the world, there were plenary sessions with Investors, stakeholders and professionals from all over the country, with the crux of discussions and presentations centered on the development of Kano state.
The theme of the summit was “Transforming the Kano economy: turning challenges into opportunities”
The outcome of the summit with 6 sessions highlighted that Kano state is blessed with both human and natural resources and should be ahead economically in Nigeria and even West Africa, It was also noted that the knowledge and experience to make this happen is known, but sadly it hasn’t been transformed into reality. The problem of Kano state is not new, as it’s the same problem that has affected Nigeria as a country and hindered the growth and development of the sleeping giant of Africa.
In the words of the Emir of Kano, HRH Muhammadu Sanusi II at the just concluded summit “We had the first Kano economic summit in 2006 and sadly many of the issues that were raised over a decade ago are still being raised today”.
This peculiar Nigerian problem will however be a thing of the past in Kano state if events that ended the summit are anything to go by. The Kano state government today signed 10 Memorandum of understandings with different investors (Both foreign and local), to strategically place Kano State on the pathway to being a mega city.
In the words of the Governor of the state Dr. Umar Ganduje “This is a sign that Kano State is ready to implement everything discussed during the summit and the aim is for Kano to become a mega city”.
The MoU’s signed today by the Kano state government and investors were strategically selected as they are to create the most essential infrastructures needed to kick start the dream of a mega city. The signed MoU’s touches agriculture, security, transportation, power and so on.
The 10 MoU’s signed today by the Kano State government are as follows:
- MoU for the construction of the KANAWA economic city, signed with Brains and Hammers Ltd.
- MoU for the construction of a tricycle assembling plant, signed with Milestone International Company Ltd.
- MoU for 100 Megawatts solar project, signed with Arewa Solar PV Synergy Ltd.
- MoU for 100 Megawatts solar project at Gabasawa, signed with Black Raino and Dangote consortium.
- MoU for a fibre optic cable communication network for Kano metropolitan, signed with Broadbased Nig. Ltd.
- MoU for the construction of a light rail system, signed with Eighteenth Engineering Company (EEC).
- MoU for the production of license and smart card for security of vehicles, signed with Multivision Nig, Ltd.
- MoU for the construction of a waste management and recycling plant, signed with Shara Dukiya Nig. Ltd.
- MoU for the construction of a large scale integrated rice mill, signed with Dangote Rice Ltd. (Subsidiary of Dangote Group).
- MoU for 100 Megawatts of solar power, signed with Qingdao St. Meer Solar Energy Investment Co. Ltd.
After the signing rituals were concluded, Governor Umar Ganduje addressed the investors saying it will not be business as usual where MoU’s will be signed and results won’t become a reality. He said the state government has publicly shown the world how serious they are for the development of the state and as such, such seriousness is expected on the part of the investors in carrying out the Infrastructures.
Governor Ganduje charged all investors to shun sabotage of any form; He also granted them a free access to his office as regards any issue encountered on the projects. He gave a stern warning to the civil service that any attempt by anyone to sabotage the development of the state won’t be taken likely.
He went on to assure the investors that they will have the best of cooperation from the state to enable them complete the projects and promised that any bureaucracy even if from the federal government should be made known to him so he can go and beg the President or any Minister involved.
Gov Ganduje completed his address saying that the 2nd Kano economic summit has been a success and the state government has decided to make it a yearly event, so that a score card of the state government can be determined based on the recommendations of the previous summits.
