Zamfara woos Canadian investors at trade expo

Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has called on Canadian investors to take advantage of opportunities in agriculture and solid minerals in Nigeria, saying Africa seeks genuine partnerships rather than charity. Lawal made the appeal on Wednesday while delivering the keynote address at the Canada-Africa Trade and Investment Expo 2025, held at the Toronto Marriott City […]

Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has called on Canadian investors to take advantage of opportunities in agriculture and solid minerals in Nigeria, saying Africa seeks genuine partnerships rather than charity.

Lawal made the appeal on Wednesday while delivering the keynote address at the Canada-Africa Trade and Investment Expo 2025, held at the Toronto Marriott City Hotel in Canada, according to a statement.

Speaking on the theme, “Strengthening Canada-Africa Partnerships in Trade, Investment, and Sustainable Growth,” the governor said sub-national governments such as states and provinces hold the key to translating investment policies into tangible benefits.

“Sub-national governments are the places where farmers cultivate the crops that feed nations, where mining operations either succeed or fail, where young people seek opportunities, and where investors look for clarity, stability, and fair return,” he said.

Lawal stressed that his administration is working to reshape governance in Zamfara and create an enabling environment for investment through transparency, accountability, and sustainability.

He identified agriculture as central to Zamfara’s economy, noting that with over 70 per cent arable land, the state has the potential to become a major food basket for Nigeria and the continent.

“With Canadian expertise in mechanisation, irrigation, post-harvest management, and agro-industrial chains, paired with our farmers’ resilience, we can set a new food security model for Africa,” he said.

On solid minerals, the governor explained that Zamfara is endowed with gold, lithium, manganese, and granite—resources he described as critical to the global energy transition.

“We aim to learn from past mistakes by ensuring resource wealth translates to prosperity, not just extraction. This is why we are strengthening regulations, promoting responsible mining, and ensuring that local communities benefit directly,” he added.

Lawal urged Canadian partners to look beyond Africa’s capital cities and explore opportunities in rural communities where the real engines of growth are located.