Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived in Jigawa State as the special guest of honour to officially open the state's flagship economic summit, the J-Invest Summit 2026. The event marks a major milestone for the state's economic agenda.
Summit Details and Targets
The J-Invest Summit 2026, themed “Unlocking Opportunities, driving sustainable growth for a Better Jigawa,” will be held from 1st to 2nd July 2026 at the Banquet Hall of the Government House, Dutse. The event was convened by InvestJigawa, the Jigawa State Investment Promotion Agency, under the leadership of Governor Umar Namadi.
The Jigawa State Government has set highly ambitious targets for this landmark event, including attracting over ₦400 billion in direct private sector investments to stimulate industrial growth and create jobs. The state has identified and packaged more than ₦500 billion worth of viable, investment-ready projects across its 27 Local Government Areas. Additionally, over 500 high-profile participants, including global investors, development finance institutions, and private sector leaders, are expected to attend.
Priority Sectors
To achieve its diversification and sustainable development goals, the summit is focusing on four critical sectors. Agribusiness and agro-allied industries are a key priority, capitalizing on Jigawa's vast arable land, agricultural potential, and recent drive toward global export readiness. Renewable energy and infrastructure development will also be explored, focusing on alternative energy prospects and the infrastructure needed to back industrialization. The summit will equally focus on strengthening local micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and light manufacturing to act as major catalysts for industrial growth. Finally, ways of building strong public-private partnerships (PPPs) to transform the state's healthcare and educational delivery will be explored under social services.
Key Speakers and Dignitaries
Aside from Vice President Shettima and Governor Namadi, the event features heavy hitters from Nigeria's economic and financial sectors. Lead speakers include Dr. Mansur Mukhtar, Chairman of the Board of the Bank of Industry; Dr. Olasupo Olusi, Managing Director/CEO of the Bank of Industry; Dr. Abba Abubakar Aliyu, Managing Director/CEO of the Rural Electrification Agency; and Mr. Mansur Ahmed, CEO of the Dangote Group.
What to Expect
Over the course of the two-day summit, the state is pushing beyond generic policy discussions. The focus is strictly on Business-to-Government (B2G) and Business-to-Business (B2B) matchmaking sessions, aiming to secure signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) and set immediate project execution timelines.
