GOMBE State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, CON, has hosted a dinner in honour of a visiting delegation of investors and development partners from Tunisia and Morocco.
The delegation, under the auspices of the Tunisia Consortium for African Development (TUCAD), had earlier undertaken a comprehensive technical and field assessment tour of key infrastructure and investment sites in Gombe State, including the Daɗinkowa Dam, Muhammadu Buhari Industrial Park, major water systems and other strategic locations, with a view to proposing practical, bankable, and long-term development partnerships.
Speaking during the dinner, which was attended by the Tunisian Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency Mohsen Antit, Governor Inuwa Yahaya stressed the importance of African-led solutions to African challenges, describing the engagement as a model South-South development partnership.
“Nigeria and Tunisia are both developing countries. This is a South-South relationship, and I strongly believe that if Africans join hands and cooperate, the sky will be our limit. We do not need to constantly look outside for solutions from those who may not fully understand our problems or share in our aspirations,” the Governor said.
He emphasized that intra-African collaboration driven by shared identity, business cooperation and mutual concern remains the most sustainable pathway to unlocking the continent’s vast potential.
“As Africans, we are one people. We must strengthen this kind of partnership through business, cooperation and shared purpose, to advance humanity and ensure Africa truly develops,” he stated.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya noted that the delegation’s visit had confirmed the huge untapped investment opportunities in Gombe State, particularly in agriculture, water resources, energy and industrial development.
“Your visit has shown clearly that Gombe State is rich in potential waiting to be unlocked. Gombe is strategically located at the centre of the North-East, sharing boundaries with five other states. This gives it access to a vast regional market and enormous commercial opportunities,” he explained.
Explaining the state’s resource endowment, the Governor disclosed that Gombe boasts three major dams, vast arable agricultural lands and an enterprising population, making it a natural hub for agro-industrial expansion, renewable energy development and water resource management.
“We are open, we are ready, and Gombe is prepared to work with you as partners in progress,” he assured.
In his remarks, Tunisian Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency Mohsen Antit, commended Governor Inuwa Yahaya for his visionary leadership, clarity of purpose and strong commitment to sustainable development.
He vouched for the credibility and technical capacity of the Tunisian investors, describing them as some of the best conglomerates in North Africa.
“The CEOs you are meeting are among the finest in Tunisia. Tunisia is proud to partner with African brothers, and we are delighted to support Gombe State’s development drive. Through this partnership, Gombe has a valuable opportunity to tap into Tunisia’s expertise in water, energy, agriculture and infrastructure development,” the Ambassador said.
He extended a formal invitation to Governor Inuwa Yahaya to attend the Financing Investment and Trade in Africa (FITA) Forum scheduled to hold in Tunis in April, describing the platform as a strategic gateway for unlocking further investment and financing opportunities for Gombe State.
Earlier, the Mission Coordinator and Chief Executive of African Network Centre Ltd, Alhaji Ahmed Shuaibu Gara-Gombe, gave an overview of the delegation’s visit, noting that the engagement had opened new investment frontiers beyond water and energy, including irrigation, renewable energy, construction and industrial development.
He said the technical assessments carried out by the team would provide a strong foundation for structured project execution and sustainable partnerships, especially given the concrete commitment by both parties through the signed MoUs.