By Lucy Ogalue

Stakeholders say that effective reforms at the sub-national level are essential for building a stronger economy.

They spoke at the Peer-to-Peer Learning Workshop for State Commissioners of Commerce and Heads of Investment Promotion Agencies in Abuja.

The workshop was organised by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) under the State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER) Programme.

Dr Aliyu Chikaji, Director-General of the Yobe State Agency for Public-Private Partnership and Investment Promotion, said the forum was helping states to move from theory to practice.

He said peer learning had made it possible for states to share real-life experiences and adopt what works.

According to him, the workshop has helped reduce the time needed for states to learn and implement reforms.

Chikaji said investment promotion required deliberate project preparation to attract investors.

He added that Yobe was developing bankable projects in key sectors, including livestock, to attract investment and boost economic growth.

Also speaking, Mr Sabiu Sani, Special Adviser to Kaduna State Governor on Investment Promotion, said communication and collaboration were key to attracting investors.

He said that Kaduna State’s performance in ease of doing business ranking (second place) was a result of deliberate reforms.

Sani said the state would continue to improve its policies on land administration, taxation and infrastructure to sustain investor confidence.

He added that public-private partnerships and institutional coordination had strengthened Kaduna’s investment climate.

In his remarks, Dr Muhammed Kamba, Director-General of Kebbi State Investment Promotion Agency, said reforms were improving transparency and efficiency.

He said simplified land administration processes and consolidated payment systems had reduced bottlenecks for investors.

Kamba said investment promotion agencies were being strengthened across states to improve service delivery.

He stressed the importance of collaboration among Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to attract and retain investment.

Meanwhile, Mrs Roseline Bentu, Head of Plateau State Investment Promotion Agency, commended the initiative By PEBEC.

Bentu said the training was engaging and provided valuable knowledge for implementation at the state level.

She pledged to domesticate lessons learnt  from the workshop, particularly in aligning state plans with national development strategies.

According to her, aligning policies will enable states to benefit from federal initiatives and attract more private sector investment.

Bentu noted that the national development plan places strong emphasis on private sector participation.

She said states must re-strategise their policies to tap into available opportunities and drive growth.

The participants agreed that peer learning and coordinated reforms would improve competitiveness across the states.

They said stronger institutions, better policies and improved infrastructure would drive economic growth.

The stakeholders expressed optimism that sustained sub-national reforms would translate into job creation, enterprise development and improved livelihoods.(NAN)(www.nannwws.ng)

Edited by Joseph Edeh