Kaduna State has placed job creation at the centre of its new economic direction as the government announced major development targets during the International Investment Forum and Roadshow for Solid Minerals in Nigeria, held alongside the G-20 Summit in South Africa. Governor Uba Sani said the state’s next phase of growth will focus heavily on employment opportunities, income improvements and poverty reduction.
According to him, “over the next two years, Kaduna State is targeting $2.5–$3 billion in new investments, the creation of more than 10,000 jobs, up to $90 million in household income gains, and the lifting of 50,000–70,000 citizens out of poverty.”
The governor gave these projections while delivering a keynote speech titled “Unlocking Kaduna’s Green Minerals Future: From Exploration to Industrialisation.” He said Kaduna’s long-term vision is tied to a greener and more industrial economy that allows young people and households to benefit directly from new investments. He described the state as a dynamic mining and industrial hub with more than 11 million residents and 23 identified mineral assets ranging from gold and lithium to tin, iron ore and limestone.
Governor Sani explained that the state has adopted a plan that focuses on value addition rather than exporting raw minerals. He said Kaduna is building processing centres, certification hubs and public-private partnerships to support industrial growth. According to him, this approach is already showing results, with more than $2.1 billion in long-term investments and strong exploration activities from reputable international companies. He added that these developments confirm Kaduna as “Nigeria’s next frontier for green-minerals–driven development.”
After the Forum, the Kaduna Mining Development Company signed five strategic Memoranda of Understanding. These include an agreement with X-Calibur Smart Mapping for advanced mineral mapping and tracking of illegal mining, and another with Core International Mining & Marketing Co for establishing and running the $150 million Kaduna State Green Mining Investment Fund.
Other agreements were with Rosebank Capital for investment mobilisation and project development, Vuka Group for integration into Africa’s mining ecosystem, and DCX Global & Precious Metals Tswane for setting up a gold aggregation and processing centre in Kaduna.
The governor called for stronger partnerships between Nigeria and South Africa in investment and technology transfer. He also acknowledged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reforms, saying they have improved the ease of doing business and strengthened support for states. Governor Sani said Kaduna is prepared to unlock its green minerals future while delivering large-scale job opportunities and economic progress for its citizens.
