By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
Governor has reiterated his administration’s commitment to positioning as Northern Nigeria’s leading industrial hub through sustained support for local manufacturing clusters, enterprise digitalisation and innovation-driven growth.
The governor made this known on Thursday at the 47th edition of the , where he stressed that economic transformation cannot be imported but must be built from within.
Represented by the Commissioner for Business, Innovation and Technology, Mrs. Patience Fakai, Sani said the theme of this year’s fair, “From Reforms to Results: Economic Transformation Through Sustained Local Content Development,” aligns with his administration’s economic vision.
According to him, Kaduna is strategically positioned as Northern Nigeria’s industrial hub by empowering farmers, supporting manufacturers, digitising enterprises and enabling innovators.
He listed the remodelling of Panteka Market, promotion of agro-processing and value addition, expansion of digital innovation hubs and tech ecosystems, as well as procurement policies that prioritise local businesses and improved access to finance for MSMEs and startups, as key pillars of the state’s economic transformation agenda.
Explaining the concept of local content development, the governor said it entails ensuring that Kaduna talent, resources and enterprises remain central to the state’s growth story.
He noted that innovation remains the bridge between reforms and tangible economic outcomes, adding that the state is advancing digital skills development for youth and women to drive inclusive growth.
Sani further declared that Kaduna is not only open for business but ready for the future, as it is building an ecosystem where creativity meets capital and ideas evolve into viable enterprises.
He described the Kaduna International Trade Fair as one of the most significant economic platforms in West Africa, providing opportunities to showcase indigenous products and services, strengthen trade relationships, attract domestic and foreign investments, and promote inter-state and regional collaboration.
The governor called on investors to partner with Kaduna State, encouraging entrepreneurs to expand boldly and youth to innovate relentlessly, while assuring development partners of the state’s credibility and reliability.
“Our local content strategy ensures that growth is not concentrated in a few sectors but spreads across agriculture, manufacturing, services, creative industries and digital technology,” he said.
“When local businesses thrive, communities prosper. When innovation expands, opportunities multiply. When partnerships deepen, transformation accelerates.”
