Dangote, Nasarawa State Govt, Forge Ties To Boost Investments
By Patience Ikpeme
The Nigeria Association of Small-Scale Industrialists (NASSI), Nasarawa State Chapter, has entered into a strategic partnership with Dangote Industries Limited (DIL) aimed at unlocking new investment opportunities and stimulating economic development in the state.
Chairman of the NASSI Nasarawa State Chapter, Mr. Nidan Sambo Manasseh, who spoke with journalists in Lafia ahead of the 2025 Nasarawa Trade Fair and Exhibition (NASTFE), described the collaboration as a promising step toward transforming the state’s industrial landscape.
According to him, the Trade Fair has opened doors for expanded engagements between NASSI and Dangote Group in areas such as youth and women empowerment, enterprise development, and support services tailored to small-scale businesses.
“We are actively exploring opportunities to deepen our collaboration with the Dangote Group, particularly in expanding employment programmes through youth and women’s skills acquisition and other vital support services,” Mr. Manasseh said. He acknowledged the group’s sponsorship and financial support for NASSI’s programmes as “exceptional.”
Located on a 68,000-hectare expanse in Tunga, Nasarawa Sugar Company Limited (NSCL), owned by Dangote Group, is described as Nigeria’s largest sugar Backward Integration Policy (BIP) project. The investment is expected to serve as an economic anchor for the region, supporting thousands of direct and indirect jobs and expanding the state’s industrial capacity.
Mr. Manasseh said that the 2025 edition of NASTFE, which is being sponsored by the Dangote Group, is a critical economic initiative designed to align with Governor Abdullahi Sule’s development blueprint. According to him, the trade fair is being organised in partnership with the Nasarawa State Chamber of Commerce, Agriculture and Industries and will be officially declared open by the governor on Wednesday in Lafia.
He said the theme for this year’s fair—”Investing in Nasarawa’s Future: Fostering Economic Development Through Mineral and Agricultural Cottage Industrialization”—reflects the state’s aspirations to move from resource potential to economic productivity.
He noted that the trade fair will showcase the abundance of mineral resources in Nasarawa and how value addition in raw material processing and manufacturing could spur growth in the small-scale industrial sector.
“This focus will enhance economic value, particularly for Small Scale Industries, attract crucial investment, generate employment opportunities, and contribute to poverty reduction,” he added.
Mr. Manasseh also described NASTFE as a platform to link discerning investors with the state’s resource base and human capital. He said it would serve as a communication tool to reinforce the state’s image as a business-friendly destination.
In a statement, the Chief Branding and Communication Officer of Dangote Group, Mr. Anthony Chiejina, said Nasarawa plays a key role in the conglomerate’s national investment strategy. He revealed that the NSCL project, upon completion, will be one of the largest sugar investments in Africa.
Also commenting on the partnership, Senior Special Adviser to the Dangote Group President, Mrs. Fatima Wali Abdurrahman, said the company views its collaboration with NASSI and participation in the Trade Fair as strategic.
She noted that various Strategic Business Units (SBUs) under the Dangote Group will be participating in the exhibition. These include: Dangote Peugeot Automobiles Nigeria Limited (DPAN), Dangote SinoTruck, Dangote Sugar Refinery, Dangote Salt (NASCON), and Dangote Cement.
Mrs. Abdurrahman said the Trade Fair offers the Dangote Group an opportunity to interface directly with stakeholders and the Nigerian public. A Help Desk will be established at the company’s pavilion to provide information, attend to inquiries, and receive feedback from potential partners and customers.
She urged visitors to take advantage of the fair by visiting the Dangote Group pavilion and engaging with its diverse range of products and services.
As Nasarawa State continues to position itself as a top investment destination in Nigeria, the alliance between NASSI and the Dangote Group is expected to play a pivotal role in driving industrialisation, enhancing local enterprise, and creating sustainable livelihoods.
