In a bid to improve the infrastructure of Kaduna State, Governor Nasiru Ahmad El-Rufai, has revealed that talks are ongoing between the State Government and the Management of Dangote Group towards developing the infrastructure of the state on a partnership level.
Speaking last weekend at the ongoing Kaduna 38th International Trade Fair, the governor, who was represented by his Deputy Barnabas Bala Bantex extolled the partnership between the Dangote Group and the Kaduna State Government over the years, while also lauding the Group for yearly sponsorship of the state’s trade fair.
He said he was impressed with the support and participation of the Dangote Group in ensuring that successive Trade Fairs succeed, “We are talking with the Dangote Group especially in the area of infrastructural development and in other areas in the state,” he revealed.
In the same vein, the representative of the President of the Dangote Group and Deputy Managing Director Dangote Flour Mills Alhaji Ahmed Yakasai said that the cooperation between the Dangote Group and the Kaduna Chamber of Commerce Industry Mines and Agriculture (KADCCIMA) has been helping to ginger the country’s economy.
Yakasai assured that the Pan African conglomerate is not resting on its oars. “The Kaduna Trade Fair is important to us because Kaduna is the heart of the North having been the centre of the region at independence in 1960,” he said.
He said the company has been helping small businesses through its partnership with Bank of Industry (BOI).
He further revealed that the Dangote Group and the Government of Kaduna State are partnering to reinvigorate the Peugeot Automobile of Nigeria, PAN, in order to create jobs for the youths.
Speaking at the Dangote Special Day, President of the KADCCIMA Hajiya Muheeba Fareeda Dankaka commended the Dangote Group for its yearly sponsorship of the event, adding that in Dangote the chamber found a worthy partner in the development of the Nigerian economy. “Dangote Cement is also rescuing African countries with its cement plants across Africa,” she added.
She said the Kaduna Trade Fair has opened an avenue for the country enter into a joint venture with other countries, noting that the theme for this year was deliberately chosen to promote the private sector which is the engine of growth of any nation.
Mr. Segun Awolowo who represented President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Okechukwu Enalamah, said the Federal Government was diversifying the economy through partnership with the private sector.
He added that Theme of the Trade Fair: Promoting Public Private Partnership as Panacea for Accelerated Growth and Development is apt in view of the need to develop the economy.
Director General of KADCCIMA Usman Saulawa said earlier that all along the Dangote Group has been sponsoring the fair, adding that: “The relationship between KADCCIMA and Dangote Group has been a very long one. Dangote has been identifying with Kaduna International Trade Fair for long. Its participation at the Fair is close to almost 30 years.”
He described the annual event as Africa’s most famous Trade Fair and assured that it would help in deepening business relations across Africa.
According to him exhibitors from India, Egypt, Pakistan, China, Kenya, Niger, Ghana, Hungary, Senegal and Mali among others are participating. A statement earlier from the Dangote Group said the Trade Fair has offered the Group opportunity to display its numerous innovative products which include the Dan-Q Seasoning, sachet sugar, salt, Cement and pasta among others.
The statement urged participants to patronize the Dangote Pavilion at the Trade Fair.
