Saleh Woos Global Investors to Develop Nasarawa State

Ahead of the 2027 elections, a governorship aspirant, Sadiq Saleh, has pitched a new model of governance to a global audience of investors, using a high-profile event in Dubai to seek capital for Nasarawa State.

Saleh stated this while speaking at a gathering at the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) on September 20, 2025.

He laid out his data-driven plan to transform the state, which he described as an “underdeveloped frontier.”

Saleh highlighted Nasarawa’s potential, including its abundant solid minerals, expansive arable land, and its unique advantage of bordering Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Saleh in a statement issued Thursday by his media office emphasised that his ambition was not simply a conventional political campaign.

He noted that he is positioning his run as a platform to attract and manage investment, with a focus on local value creation rather than raw resource export.

He cited his foundation’s track record, which includes providing vocational training to 6,000 individuals and scholarships to 1,200 youths, as proof of his capacity to execute projects.

The aspiring governor told the multinational audience from over 20 countries that his approach was anchored in “capital mobilisation as statecraft.” He urged delegates to “begin dialogues now” to co-create projects and “share in the value uplift.”

Saleh specifically outlined collaboration opportunities in agro-industrial value chains, infrastructure development, and clean energy.

The Dubai session was met with serious interest from some investors, with a number of them now planning due diligence trips to Nigeria.