…….Dangote Group Allocates ₦366 Million Worth of Shares for IDPs, Returnees, Pledges Scholarships for 6,000 Girls.
…….Various financial institutions commit to scale up financial instruments to Borno state with potential investment of over 500 million USD.
FIC REPORT (BORNO STATE) – The two-day Borno State Durable Solutions to Internal Displacement Private Sector Roundtable in Lagos concluded with nine signed letters of commitment, approvals for land allocation, and pledges to support investment, education, and sustainable livelihoods for internally displaced persons (IDPs) and returnees. Commitments included scale up of financial instruments for IDPs, energy, recycling and private sector.
The roundtable, held on 8th and 9th October 2026, brought together more than 20 private sector actors across banking and finance, telecommunications, industrial and consumer, trade and commerce, impact investment, infrastructure development, housing, foundations and philanthropy.
Representatives of United Nations agencies, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), provided Goodwill messages. Media representatives were also in attendance.
The Borno state government´s commitment was reflected with the active participation of His Excellency, the Deputy Governor of the state, Chief of Staff to Governor, Commissioner of Information and Internal Security, Commissioner of Finance, Commissioner for Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement, Commissioner for Works, Director General of Borno Investment Promotion Agency, Special Assistant to the Governor on Media, Chief Adviser to the Governor on Coordination of Sustainable Development, Partnership and Humanitarian Response. They all had bilateral high-level discussions with the private sector, foundations and financial institutions representatives in attendance.
Six private sector companies signed letters of commitment on the first day, indicating their interest in investing in key sectors supporting Borno State’s durable solutions agenda. Three additional organizations signed on the second day, bringing the total to nine.
Other participating organizations collected commitment forms for further internal consultations before signing.
To facilitate investment, two investors applied for and received land allocation approvals on the first day. Airtel also secured right-of-way approval to erect telecommunications towers, supporting efforts to expand connectivity across the state.
Among the major outcomes, Dangote Group allocated shares worth ₦366 million for internally displaced persons and returnees, while Dangote Foundation pledged scholarships for 4,000 girls over the next six years.
The commitments provide a basis for expanding private sector participation in Borno’s recovery through investments that support livelihoods, access to services and the economic inclusion of displacement-affected communities.
To translate the outcomes into concrete projects, the investment pipeline will be organized by sector and aligned with the relevant pillars of the Borno State 25-Year Development Plan.
Private Sector investors who wish to build industries will have land within two weeks and residential plots within 24 hours. Other ease-of-doing-business offerings include waivers and incentives, an investor-friendly business environment, an industrial hub, an international dry port, and access to international markets.
The Borno State Government will establish an Investment Facilitation Support Group with support from Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. The group will follow up on commitments and pledges and help move pipeline projects forward, with the Supporting Sustainable Social Protection, Participation and Economic Resilience in Northeast Nigeria (SEPIN SUSI)/GIZ providing technical input.
The group will also institute quarterly progress monitoring and reporting to track implementation, identify challenges, and facilitate timely action. The roundtable concluded with a focus on sustained engagement to turn investment interest and pledges into practical opportunities for internally displaced persons, returnees and host communities in Borno State.
The roundtable was jointly organized by the Borno State Government and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH with funding from the European Union and the German Government.
Additional investment roundtables with a dual pipeline objective are being planned on the 2nd and 5th of November in Kano and Abuja respectively to mobilize innovative finance into durable solutions and impact opportunities.
Dauda Iliya
Special Adviser to Borno State Governor
(Media/Spokeperson)
October 11, 2026
