Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, on Tuesday said Nigeria needs local and international investments to progress.
The former president stated this while commissioning the newly constructed Sir Ahmadu Bello International Conference Centre in Bauchi, describing it as a world-class facility capable of positioning the state as a major hub for investment and tourism in Nigeria.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, Obasanjo commended the Bauchi State Government under the leadership of Governor Bala Mohammed for the initiative, noting that the project was a testament to the state’s vision for growth and global relevance.
“With what we have, we can show the world that we are part and parcel of it,” Obasanjo. “What others have and pride themselves on is not more than what we have. Some people don’t even have half of what we have. This world-class centre can be developed and made one of the tourist attractions in Nigeria”, he added.
The former president added that the newly commissioned facility would promote interaction, tourism, and business engagements, stressing that the state could leverage it to attract both local and international investors.
“Not only are we commissioning this, but we are also starting with a conference to talk about investment. What do we need in Nigeria today? We need to mobilise investments from local and international sources,” Obasanjo said.
Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of Architectronix Nigeria Limited, Architect Ruben Okoya, whose firm handled the project, described the facility as “a masterpiece conceived, initiated, and completed under the visionary leadership” of Governor Bala Mohammed.
According to him, the centre boasts five main halls that can host up to ten separate events simultaneously. He said the facility also features an outdoor event space with a capacity of 2,500 people, a mosque, solar power installations, standby generators, and full internet connectivity.
He further recalled that the project’s foundation was laid in March 2021 by Professor Zulum, then a guest of the Bauchi State Government, and expressed satisfaction that the vision had now become a reality.
The commissioning ceremony attracted top government officials, traditional rulers, captains of industry, and international guests, all of whom hailed the project as a milestone achievement in Bauchi State’s drive toward modernisation and economic transformation.
Punch/DeborahOlayiwola.
