A former Emir of Kano and past governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi (Muhammadu Sausi II) has been appointed as the Vice-Chairman of the Kaduna Investment Promotion Agency.

Governor Nasir El-Rufai while welcoming Sanusi at the inauguration of the KADIPA board charged the citizens to redouble its efforts in making Kaduna State the topmost investment destination in Nigeria, by improving its Ease of Doing Business ranking.

The governor disclosed that KADIPA has been a significant and successful vehicle in the investment drive of the state, helping since 2015 to attract over$ 2.1bn in actual and pledged investments.

El Rufai also pointed out that KADIPA will be competing not just with other states in Nigeria for investments but with all emerging markets, adding that the agency should not rest on its oars in its drive to attract businesses to Kaduna state.

Recall that the World Bank had rated Kaduna state as the best sub-national in its 2018 Ease of Doing Business ranking and in 2020, the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission ranked the state as the first in the quantum of foreign direct investment attracted within the first six months of the year.

Responding on behalf of other members, Deputy Governor of Kaduna state and the Chair of the Board, Dr Hadiza Balarabe assured the governor of their commitment to improving on the record of KADIPA, given the calibre of persons on the Board.

In his address, Sanusi, a renowned economist, promised to contribute his best to uplift KADIPA and also gave his commitment to make inputs in the overall policy of Kaduna State Government.