Emmanuel Awari-Jalingo
Investors across the globe have been call upon to take advantage of the potentials that are in Taraba State and come and invest in the state.
The Chairman, First Taraba Youths, Economic and Security Summit, Mr Benjamin Bako, made the call while speaking with Journalists shortly after the three days summit in jalingo.
According to him, the state has manpower resources that can work to enable investors make gains, adding that the government has taking the issue of security with seriousness.
He added that the state is ready to investors in the areas of Tourism, Timber amongst others.
“If you are a serious business man and want to make profit, then you should be thinking of coming to Taraba State.
He declared that with the steps taken so far by governor Agbu Kefas, to end insecurity, Taraba is now open for all kinds of business.
He said that the three days summit aimed at showcasing to the world that the state is open for business and to identifying the potential of young citizens.
“Investors can come and invest in Taraba State. The government has put in place measures to ensure their security and that of the people. We are calling on the nation and the world that there are many potentials to invest in the state.
“Taraba State has one of the best weather to compare with other countries in Europe.
The summit which has the theme: Harvesting the potential in our youth, Repositioning Taraba from potentials to prosperity and securing our people, has identified measures to help government end insecurity, change the mentality of young people toward governmet jobs to technological base skills and improve the state economy.
The Chairman also noted that the summit was to showcase to the world that Taraba is now open for business since governmet of Governor Agbu Kefas, has indicated seriousness in tackling challengies hindering the development of the state.
“The government of Governor Kefas Agbu is ready to accommodate all investors and he will take it to the State House of Assembly as a bill to be passed into law.
“We are bringing back Dangote and other investors that left the state.
“The summit have resolved and advise governmet to create an ICT hub where youth would be train to reduce internet illiteracy and improve internet creativity among youth.
“Government is to train manpower in the area of internet productivity to ease the borden of governmet employment and change the mentality of young people who believe governmet job is the only surviving point after graduation.
“The government will create this immediately to reduce illiteracy in the people for everything have gone Internet. You need to involve yourself in computer literacy.
“We will change the mindset of people to move forward. It is not about what you know but what about you can do with your hands.
“The summit advised governmet, and an enabling environment has been put in place for investors to come do any kind of business in Taraba state. The investors would have a level playing ground by low to do their businesses without any illegal challenge,” The chairman wooed.
Bako while expressing confidence in the governmet of governor Kefas to sustaining the summit said, it would help mitigate the general insecurity bedeviling Taraba and train youth to be self reliance.
“I am confident that the government of governor Agbu would sustain the summit since it is aim at tackling insecurity, improving the state economy and creating job opportunity for youth.
“The summit as you are aware, was governor Agbu Kefas’s effort toward creating an enabling environment for investors to come explore the potentials of the state so, I am confident that the program would be sustain.
“Our target is to change the narrative and the mentality of youths who believe that one must work with government, forgetting the available technologies to explore – he said.
“We want to give our youths the technological skills in line with the global trend. We want to change the mentality of our youth that one must work with government.
“In the economic sector, the governmet has already started making contact with both local and foreign investors to come explore the potential of the state and empower our communities with economic activities.
“I want to inform investors across the world that the security of lives and property is now guarantee in Taraba and the state is now open for all kinds of business.
On Tiv/Jukun crisis happening long between Benue and Taraba State, he said that he have played roles in ensuring peace amongst the two states.
“It is all about issue of farm lands. It is an indigenous problem, Benue State should not come in. Taraba State had large land. Benue State has no problem with Taraba State – he added.
He disclose that land reform would be created for serious farmers in the state.