Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has stepped up efforts to attract private capital into the state, urging investors and businesses to take advantage of the emerging economic opportunities across Zamfara.
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 forum, themed “Financing a Dignified Future: Aligning Business Action, Policy and Capital,” brought together chief executives, senior government officials, diplomats, trade commissioners, industry leaders and international development partners to deliberate on strategies for unlocking productive investment and driving inclusive economic growth.
Participants were drawn from critical sectors including oil and gas, energy, manufacturing, construction and infrastructure.
Speaking at the forum, Lawal noted that Nigerian states were increasingly competing for private capital at a time when investors had become more selective about where and how they deployed their funds.
He said the challenge was no longer merely identifying economic opportunities, but creating the right policy environment, partnerships and conditions capable of converting those opportunities into credible and bankable investments.
The governor highlighted his administration’s efforts to close the gap between Zamfara’s economic potential and actual investment, stressing the importance of building investor confidence while ensuring that investments translate into tangible benefits for citizens.
According to him, effective collaboration between government, the private sector and investors remains critical to unlocking Zamfara’s economic potential and creating sustainable opportunities for its people.
The CEO Forum also examined businesses, sectors and projects with significant growth potential but which continue to face challenges in accessing finance.
Participants explored measures to de-risk such opportunities, improve investor confidence and create stronger links between public policy, private capital and productive economic activity.
A major focus of the forum was the concept of the “Dignity Dividend”—the idea that investment-led economic growth should go beyond financial returns to generate quality jobs, strengthen local businesses, improve productivity, promote local value creation and expand economic participation.
The forum further sought to identify concrete commitments and partnerships that participating organisations could pursue over the next six to 12 months.
Among the notable speakers were chief executives and senior executives from First Bank Group, Access Bank, Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, Nigeria Economic Summit Group, Nigerian Exchange Group, Chellarams Plc, SecureID Group and Greenwich Merchant Bank Plc, among others.
The organisers also unveiled plans for a live showcase of the Business Value and Sustainability Platform (BVSP), conceived as a standing coalition bringing together business leaders, investors and policymakers to sustain collaboration beyond the forum.
The platform is expected to play a role in shaping private-sector engagement during the United Nations General Assembly High Level Week.
Governor Lawal’s appearance at the Lagos forum forms part of his administration’s broader drive to reposition Zamfara as an investment destination, strengthen its economic base and attract capital capable of supporting job creation, local enterprise and sustainable livelihoods.
For Zamfara, the message from the governor was clear: the state is seeking to move beyond its traditional economic narrative and present itself to investors as a territory with opportunities that can be developed through credible partnerships, responsible capital and effective government support.
