The Vice President, who represented President Bola Tinubu at the summit, remarked, "He started this project in 2007/2008. If he had invested the $19bn that it took him to set up Dangote Refinery in Microsoft, Amazon, Google, he’s going to be worth $120bn now but he decided to invest in his own country." This statement underscored the significant personal sacrifice and belief in Nigeria that underpinned Dangote's ambitious project.
The Taraba International Investment Summit served as a platform for key figures to discuss strategies for economic growth and investment within the state, which Shettima aptly described as the "agricultural powerhouse of Nigeria."
Alhaji Aliko Dangote, also speaking at the event, echoed the sentiment of collaboration and urged both government and private stakeholders to work synergistically to transform Taraba State into a vibrant economic hub. He particularly stressed the importance of fostering domestic investment as a precursor to attracting foreign direct investment. "Foreign direct investment is good, but foreign investors will only come when they see that local investors are thriving. The government must encourage domestic investments first," Dangote advised, advocating for a strong foundation built by local capital and enterprise.
Further contributing to the discourse, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar offered counsel to Governor Agbu Kefas of Taraba State. Atiku advised the governor to prioritize infrastructure development and strategically leverage the private sector to accelerate economic growth. "What the governor is doing reminds me of the challenges we faced in rebuilding Nigeria’s economy then. He must leverage the private sector, bridge resource gaps, and prioritise investment in infrastructure, education, and health to improve human capital," Atiku stated, drawing on his extensive experience in national economic policy.
The summit highlighted a shared vision among leaders and industrialists for Nigeria’s economic prosperity, with a particular focus on fostering an environment conducive to both domestic and international investment, anchored by strategic infrastructure development and human capital improvement.