By Ovie Okpare
Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State on Tuesday approved the appointment of deposed Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II as the Vice Chairman of the Kaduna State Investment Promotion Agency (KADIPA).
It will be the first cheering news since the governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, approved his dethronement on Monday.
In a statement signed by Special Adviser to Governor El-Rufai on (Media & Communication), Muyiwa Adekeye, said the board is saddled with the responsibility of attracting investment to Kaduna State.
KADIPA, Established in 2015, will be chaired by the Kaduna Deputy Governor, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe, will also oversee the implementation of ease of doing business in the state.
KADIPA, according to the statement, has led the investment drive of the state and anchored implementation of the Ease of Doing Business Charter that earned Kaduna State World Bank recognition as the Number One place for doing business in Nigeria.
ALSO READ: Why Kano Govt Dethroned Sanusi As Emir
The board has as members; Her Excellency, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe, Chairman; His Highness, Muhammadu Sanusi II, Vice-Chairman; Balarabe Abbas Lawal, Secretary to the State Government; Bariatu Y. Mohammed, Head of Service; Jimi Lawal, Senior Adviser-Counsellor; Aisha Dikko, Attorney-General of Kaduna State, and Idris Nyam, Commissioner, Business, Innovation & Technology.
Others are Fausat Ibikunle, Commissioner, Housing & Urban Development; Thomas Gyang, Commissioner, Planning & Budget Commission; Farida Dankaka, KACCIMA; Amal Hassan, Private Sector; Hafiz Bayero, MD, Kaduna Markets Development Company; Altine Jibrin, Director-General, KADGIS, and Umma Aboki, Executive Secretary, KADIPA.
It read, “Malam Nasir El-Rufai has appointed His Highness, Muhammad Sanusi II into the board of KADIPA. The appointment is part of the reconstitution of the board of KADIPA, which is statutorily chaired by the Deputy Governor, and has as internal members senior officials of the Kaduna State Government.
“Governor El-Rufai said that Kaduna State hopes to benefit from the profile, experience, intellect and networks of His Highness, Muhammad Sanusi, who before becoming Emir, had built a solid reputation in global financial circles. Malam Nasir El-Rufai said that Kaduna State is honoured to be able to call on the services of a man of such calibre to drive its development.
“The Governor also said that he is confident that the new board, which includes the most senior officers of the state will further propel KADIPA to greater success in attracting investments to Kaduna State. He disclosed that the external members have been carefully chosen to further reinforce the investment credentials of the state.”
