The Nigeria Association of Small-Scale Industrialists (NASSI), Nasarawa State Chapter, is partnering with the Dangote Industries Limited(DIL) to drive fresh investment options in the State.

With 68,000 hectares, the Dangote’s Nasarawa Sugar Company Limited (NSCL) in Tunga, is considered Nigeria’s biggest Backward Integration Policy (BIP) project in the sugar sector.

Speaking to newsmen in Lafia, Nasarawa State capital, Chairman of the Nigeria Association of Small-Scale Industrialists (NASSI), Nasarawa State Chapter, Nidan Sambo Manasseh, said the 2025 Trade Fair and Exhibition has provided the chance for the Dangote Group and NASSI to consider the numerous business opportunities in the State.

He said: “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.

“We deeply appreciate the Dangote Group’s invaluable collaboration through financial support and sponsorship of NASSI’s programs. Their contribution has been exceptional, and we are profoundly grateful.”

Mr. Manasseh said the Nasarawa Trade Fair Exhibition (NASTFE) is a vital catalyst for the State’s economic transformation, adding that the strategic initiative by NASSI directly aligns with Governor Abdullahi Sule’s vision to stimulate investment and unlock significant growth.

He said Nasarawa State’s wealth in mineral resources is a central highlight of NASTFE, adding that the exhibition will showcase how its natural endowment can drive economic growth by encouraging value addition in raw material processing and manufacturing, particularly benefiting Small Scale Industries.

“NASTFE serves as a premier platform to showcase Nasarawa State’s considerable potential, connecting discerning investors with its abundant natural resources and dynamic human capital. Governor Sule’s commitment to a business-enabling environment is evident, with NASTFE designed to effectively communicate this compelling value proposition,” he added.

The chairman of NASSI said its objective is to leverage Nasarawa State’s rich natural resources to fuel economic growth by promoting value addition in raw material processing and manufacturing.

“This focus will enhance economic value, particularly for Small Scale Industries, attract crucial investment, generate employment opportunities, and contribute to poverty reduction,” he said.

A statement from the Dangote Group’s Chief Branding and Communication Officer, Anthony Chiejina, said: “Nasarawa State is central to our overall investment in Nigeria. It is home to Dangote’s Nasarawa Sugar Company Limited (NSCL). The sugar project, when completed, will be one of the biggest sugar investments on the African continent.”

The statement quoted the Senior Special Adviser to the Dangote Group’s President, Fatima Wali Abdurrahman, as saying that: “We are not taking this partnership for granted. Our Strategic Business Units (SBUs) are participating.

According to her, some of the Business Units participating from the Dangote Group are: Dangote Peugeot Automobiles Nigeria Limited (DPAN), Dangote SinoTruck, Dangote Sugar Refinery, Dangote Salt (NASCON) and Dangote Cement, among others.”

Mrs. Abdurrahman said the Trade Fair offers the company an opportunity to interact with stakeholders and Nigerians who may want to do business with the company.

She said a special Help Desk will be created for inquiries to enable the company to receive feedback from participants.

She urged participants to visit the company’s pavilion and take advantage of its innovative products.

Determined to restore peace and tranquillity, rival groups of hunters, political thugs, and street boys, fondly known as Yan Daba, have agreed to bury their hatchet in Kano.

Besides, leaders of the famous rival groups also resolved to support the efforts of government and security agencies to end phone snatching, attacks on innocent residents and other security threats in the ancient city.

The resolution came after a special engagement meeting conveyed by a renowned philanthropist and founder of AA Zaura Foundation, AbdulKarim Abdulsalam Zaura on Saturday in Kano.

Earlier, the convener of the engagement, AA Zaura, challenged the leaders of the rival groups to consider the future and think of contributing to the development of the state instead of fomenting violence.

Zaura, a Kano Central senatorial candidate under the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 general election, worried over the height of unrest and criminalities, vowed to lead an empowerment initiative to keep youths productive in Kano.

He reminded that the intervention to broker peace among worrying groups devoid of political inclination, however, reassured plans to strengthen the renewed hope of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s youth empowerment initiative in the state.

“Every single person here you see has thousands of youths behind him. These are different factions of the Daba people in Kano and the hunters in Kano. Every single one here has his people.

“So this is a leadership that will discuss the possible way to make Kano state peaceful. The possible way to stop attacking, snatching ponds, snatching people’s property, killing people and doing so many illicit things ranging from drug abuse to substance abuse.

“Therefore we have achieved a lot today. The people that we sit with here have given us the lowdown and the way to tackle these issues and they are ready to do it. Every single person here, we have not had any divided opinion. We have a unity of purpose. We have a unity of function. Peace is coming to reign in every section of Kano. We will live to see no Daba in Kano”. Zaura added.

According to Zaura, the foundation has constituted a 20-man committee to strengthen mutual understanding among the groups and propel the empowerment program that would make the youths productive to themselves and the state.

“We have a plan for every single person to learn a trade. We have a plan for every single person that is dropped out of school to go back to school. We have a plan that every person who knows how to buy and sell without having capital will, at the end of the day, have capital and go back to market.

“Be productive to himself, to his family and the community at large. Let us live in peace. And this is the beginning of sitting together. We leave the committee working inside. That committee will co-opt every section in Kano state. Every single person from every nook and cranny in Kano will bring him out.

“They know the leadership. They know who is instigating them to fight. They know one person in the area who will raise a finger. Nobody will come out to terrorize anybody. We assemble ourselves here. They agreed to do it. And they are happy. And I am very happy. It is my baby project”. Zaura explained.

The Imam of Jirgagu Friday Mosque in Ningi Local Government Area of Bauchi State, Malam Murtala Jirgagu, has officially resigned from his position, citing personal challenges and the difficulty of balancing the responsibilities of the role with his daily life.

In a statement shared on his Facebook page, Imam Jirgagu described his resignation as the “easiest option” under the circumstances.

have resigned from my position as Imam, leading Friday prayers and the five daily prayers at this mosque in Jirgagu. I wish the next person whom Allah appoints to this position the best of luck,” he wrote.

He also emphasized that the appointment of an Imam is ultimately a divine decision and hinted that he will explain the reasons for his resignation at a later time.

When contacted for further clarification, Imam Jirgagu appealed for patience, stating that he would provide more details in the near future, citing personal preferences and considerations in his worldly affairs as part of his decision.

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