Follow Us on Google
…Receives GAH Award
• GAH Awards Spotlight Reforms as Lawal Urges Africa to Sell Value, Not Vulnerability
By Bianca Iboma-Emefu
Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has urged African leaders to stop projecting the continent as perpetually in need of rescue and instead reposition the continent as a viable and attractive destination for global investment, driven by its vast natural and human resources.
He made the call at the 13th edition of the GAH Awards and Business Summit, held in Lagos at the weekend, with the theme “Africa Reimagined: Innovation, Inclusion and Sustainable Growth.”
Represented by his Chief of Staff, Mukhtar Lugga, Governor Lawal said Africa must stop presenting itself as a continent in constant need of sympathy and boldly project its immense value to the world.
He emphasised the need for African leaders to change the narrative from dependency to opportunity by leveraging resources, strengthening governance and aggressively wooing global investors.
According to him, Africa already possesses what the world desperately needs, from minerals and markets to manpower, but has failed for too long to tell its story with confidence.
“Africa will always be attractive because we have what the world needs. What we must do is stop begging for sympathy and start showcasing our potential. Africa has arrived, and this is the time to take our place on the centre stage,” the governor said.
While acknowledging the undeniable challenge of the continent, Lawal stressed that focus must shift to development, security, value addition and sustainable growth rather than portraying Africa as helpless.
He added that Africa must move away from exporting raw materials and instead process its resources locally to create jobs, generate wealth and enhance global competitiveness.
Explaining Zamfara’s presence at the high-profile forum, Lawal said it was a deliberate signal that the state is undergoing a quiet but profound transformation under his leadership.
“When you heard Zamfara in the past, it often came with a negative narrative. But in just two years, that story has changed. There is massive infrastructural renewal, gaps have been closed and people are beginning to feel the impact of governance,” he said.
He disclosed that the state is rapidly opening its doors to investors, with plans underway for an international airport — the first in the North-West — aimed at easing logistics and eliminating travel concerns that once discouraged investment.
The Group Managing Director of GMYT and Convener of the prestigious GAH Awards and Business Summit, Dr. Princess Kelechi Oghene, stated that Nigeria remains the best place to invest, insisting that Africa has the capacity to redefine its global image through collaboration, innovation, and deliberate investment.
She acknowledged the presence of government officials, traditional leaders, board members, partners, sponsors, and her media team for “carrying the African story.”
