Goni Dunoma Projects Borno’s Investment Strength at Northern Nigeria Industrialization Summit

Goni Dunoma Projects Borno’s Investment Strength at Northern Nigeria Industrialization Summit

…sighted Borno as a frontier of boundless possibilities anchored on resilience, innovation, and the determination of our people.

By Mohammed Tijjani:

The spotlight fell on Borno State yesterday at the Northern Nigeria Investment and Industrialization Summit (MAP-2025), held at the prestigious Ladi Kwali Hall of the Sheraton Hotel, Abuja, as key stakeholders from across the region gathered to chart a course for industrial growth.

Representing Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, His Excellency the Deputy Governor, Hon. Umar Usman Kadafur, delivered a keynote address that highlighted Borno’s commitment to harnessing its vast agricultural and mineral wealth within the framework of the state’s 25-Year Development Plan and 10-Year Strategic Transformation Blueprint.

Among the state’s delegation, Alhaji Goni Dunoma, Chairman of the Borno Investment Company Limited (BOICL) and First Deputy President of the Borno Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (BOCCIMA), emerged as a central figure in articulating Borno’s readiness for investment.

Speaking to participants and investors on the sidelines of the summit, Dunoma highlighted Borno’s untapped potential in agriculture and solid minerals, describing the state as “a frontier of boundless possibilities anchored on resilience, innovation, and the determination of our people.”

Alhaji Dunoma, widely respected for his corporate acumen and advocacy for public-private partnerships, reinforced the Governor’s message by emphasizing that Borno is not only rich in resources but also in institutional reforms.

“What distinguishes Borno is not just the abundance of fertile land or over 30 identified mineral deposits, but the enabling environment we are creating for investors. Our reforms prioritize transparency, ease of doing business, and long-term partnerships,” he noted.

Beyond its natural endowments, Dunoma reminded investors of Borno’s strategic geographic position as a historic trading route linking Nigeria to Chad, Cameroon, Niger, Sudan, the Central African Republic, and as far as Eritrea. This advantage, he said, places Borno as a natural gateway for cross-border commerce and regional trade integration.

He further drew attention to Borno’s rich cultural heritage, highlighting its array of exportable cultural items ranging from traditional horse dressings to artisanal human wares. According to him, culture is not just identity but also industry, and Borno offers unique opportunities for cultural exports that can generate both revenue and global recognition.

Equally significant, Dunoma accentuates the administration’s deliberate policy on Human Capital Development, which he described as the backbone of sustainable investment. “We are investing in people as much as in infrastructure, because no development can thrive without skilled, empowered, and innovative human resources,” he stated.

His presence at the summit accentuated his pivotal role as a bridge between the state government and private sector investors. Over the years, Alhaji Dunoma has been instrumental in championing initiatives that align with the Zulum administration’s vision of industrialization, ranging from investment promotion to supporting local entrepreneurship.

Industry watchers at the event remarked that his capacity to engage stakeholders with clarity and conviction reflects his stature as one of Northern Nigeria’s most credible voices in business development.

The summit, attended by the Governors of Nasarawa and Zamfara among other dignitaries, reiterated the need to reposition Nigeria as an industrial powerhouse by revitalizing its mineral resources. In this context, Dunoma’s intervention was viewed as critical in projecting Borno as a state ready to take a leading role in Nigeria’s industrial revival.

As the state looks to consolidate the gains of the summit, Alhaji Goni Dunoma’s contributions once again highlight the synergy between government policy and private sector leadership — a partnership central to realizing Borno’s ambition under the 25-Year Development Framework of the Zulum-led administration.