UN, EU, Germany Woo Investors to Borno

The United Nations, the European Union, and the German government have pledged to support efforts to attract private investors to Borno State, aiming to create jobs and help displaced families rebuild their livelihoods after years of insurgency.

The development partners made the commitment on Thursday during the third Borno State Private Sector Engagement and Investment Roundtable in Abuja, which attracted over 50 prospective investors.

The initiative, spearheaded by Governor Babagana Umara Zulum’s administration, builds on previous roundtables in Lagos, focused on financing bankable projects and supporting small and medium-sized enterprises, and in Kano, which centered on agriculture, livestock, fisheries, and infrastructure.

Representing the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office in Nigeria, Thembekile Dube-Nanbe, urged stakeholders to move beyond dialogue.

“Let us identify viable investment opportunities, mobilise capital, establish lasting partnerships, and commit to measurable results,” Dube-Nanbe said.

Laila Ben Amor Mathieu, the EU Head of Human Development, stressed that the region’s recovery requires private sector involvement.

“Grants and public budgets alone will not finance recovery at the scale Borno needs. Private capital must play its part, and the role of us partners is to make that possible,” Mathieu was quoted saying.

She noted that investors could participate by supporting the proposed Borno State Durable Solutions Trust Fund or by pursuing commercially viable projects backed by state incentives, including access to land, industrial hubs, and tax measures.

She also urged businesses to create opportunities for women and young people.

“Borno is becoming an investment story. The European Union is proud to be part of it,” she added.

Dr. Karen Jansen, Head of Development Cooperation at the German Embassy, commended Governor Zulum for restoring communities, rebuilding infrastructure and public services, and opening the state’s economy to investors.

“Mobilising private sector investment, including through blended finance, will be essential to complement development cooperation and support Borno’s sustainable reconstruction,” Jansen said, assuring the state of Germany’s continued support.

Speaking at the event, Governor Zulum, represented by his Chief of Staff, Dr. Babagana Mustapha Mallumbe, stated that improvements in security and ongoing reforms were helping Borno transition from emergency humanitarian assistance towards economic recovery.

He invited businesses to invest in commercial farming, livestock production, fisheries, and manufacturing.

“Government’s role is to build the foundation, establish the security, and create the regulatory framework. But the private sector is the ultimate engine of wealth creation, job opportunities, and lasting prosperity,” Zulum said.

He noted that the Borno State Investment Promotion Agency is simplifying procedures for investors, supported by land administration reforms, fiscal incentives, and public-private partnership frameworks aimed at protecting investments.