Paul Boateng, Britain’s first black cabinet minister, has challenged wealthy Africans to drive the economic development of the continent by investing their excess wealth in the region.
Boateng said that until that is done the continent will continue to be denied financial resource needed to create employment and reduce poverty.
He also identified Jigawa State as one of the sub-national entities in the Nigeria nation endowed with enough resources, which if well managed could launch Africa into the league of emerging economies.
Boateng made this disclosure in his address to a three-day international economic and investment summit, which kicked off on Wednesday in Dutse, capital of Jigawa State. The summit was organised by the state as part of the activities to mark the 2013 Democracy Day celebration.
The major highlight of the summit was to encourage investment on agriculture, information and communication technology (ICT), solid minerals and small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs).
ADEOLA AJAKAIYE, Kano
