When Plateau State Governor Caleb Manasseh Muthofan arrived in Johannesburg to attend the 2025 G20 Summit, he brought with him more than a travel itinerary, he brought with him a vision for Plateau State’s new economic future.
He was part of the Nigerian delegation appointed by the Office of the President to attend the summit attended by Vice President Kassim Shettima on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Over several days, the vision was developed through high-level engagements, investment pitches, and strategic meetings to firmly place Plateau State on the global economic map.
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Governor Muthofan, accompanied by members of the Nigerian delegation, was received by officials of the Nigerian High Commission in Johannesburg, setting the tone for a collaborative and positive mission ahead.
His first major engagement was the Investment Breakfast Dialogue co-hosted by the Nigerian High Commission, the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) and the MTN Group.
The gathering brought together globally influential players from mining, agriculture, energy, digital technology, healthcare, finance and manufacturing.
Addressing this audience, Governor Muthofan outlined his administration’s development priorities and demonstrated that Plateau is a state ready for transformative partnership.
He highlighted Plateau’s strategic development plan based on transparency, improved governance and new pathways for private sector growth.
Investors listened intently as he detailed the Plateau’s comparative advantages, including its rich mineral deposits, strong agriculture, beautiful tourist landscape and expanding renewable energy capacity.
For many attendees, it was more than just a presentation, it was an invitation to rediscover the plateau from a global investment perspective.
After the breakfast session, the Governor moved on to a series of strategy meetings with top industry leaders.
Among those he engaged were the President and CEO of MTN Group, Aisha Rimi, Executive Director of NIPC, and Samaira Zubair, President and CEO of African Finance Corporation (AFC).
These exchanges focused on developing sector-specific opportunities that could reshape the economic landscape of the Plateau.
According to a statement by the Director of Press and Public Relations (DOPA), Gyan Bere, “The governor’s engagement began with an investment breakfast dialogue co-hosted by the Nigerian High Commission, Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) and MTN Group. Governor Mutfan highlighted his administration’s strategic development plan and outlined the state’s readiness for innovative investments and mutually beneficial partnerships.
During several strategy sessions, Governor Muthofan met with prominent industry leaders including MTN Group President and CEO, NIPC Director-General Aisha Rimi, and African Finance Corporation President and CEO Samaira Zubair. Discussions focused on developing new investment opportunities across key sectors in Plateau State,” Gyan said.
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The governor emphasized his administration’s commitment to investor-friendly policies that eliminate bottlenecks and strengthen business confidence.
He noted that Plateau’s central location in Nigeria positions it as a natural hub for industrial growth, logistics and innovation.
He also highlighted the state’s young population, calling them “energetic, creative and ready to drive the future of industry.”
Discussion quickly expanded to include mining and processing, areas where the governor believes some of the greatest potential for Plateau’s global competitiveness lies.
A key moment of the summit was a meeting with Precious Metals Tshwane (PMT), a prominent South African refiner.
Governor Muthofan made a convincing case for PMT to expand into Nigeria and proposed Plateau as an ideal destination. He stressed that the Plateau is not only rich in minerals but also has implemented reforms to make investments safer and more sustainable.
He then joined the Nigerian delegation on a technical tour of a metal processing factory in Johannesburg, observing global processing standards, beneficiation techniques and modern manufacturing models.
Reflecting on the tour, the governor emphasized that Plateau’s vision is not just to extract minerals, but to create a complete processing and value-adding ecosystem.
He explained that such an ecosystem would create jobs, increase revenues and significantly uplift mining communities across the state.
Governor Muthofan’s efforts at the G20 summit were by no means ceremonial, but a deliberate step to reposition the Plateau as a competitive destination for global capital.
As he left Johannesburg, his message was unmistakable. The statement is that Plateau State is open for business, ready for partnership and determined to establish itself in Africa’s emerging economic landscape.
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The governor’s engagement at the summit is expected to lead to tangible economic benefits for Plateau State, especially in sectors that have been underutilized for a long time. By initiating direct dialogue with global investors and development finance institutions, we have laid the foundations for new capital inflows that can support industrial parks, agro-processing zones and new mining value chain projects. Such investments could stimulate large-scale job creation and significantly increase the state’s internal revenue.
Additionally, the partnership being considered in Johannesburg could accelerate the transfer of technology and technical expertise to key sectors in the Plateau. By leveraging advanced beneficiation methods, digital infrastructure models, and renewable energy innovations, states have an opportunity to modernize their industries and increase productivity. This type of knowledge exchange is essential to building a more competitive, export-driven economy.
More importantly, the governor’s pitch to investors positions the Plateau as a stable and business-friendly environment as global companies seek new frontiers for expansion in Africa. As governance and economic management reforms are underway in the state, these initiatives offer the potential for long-term partnerships that can reshape the Plateau’s development landscape. If the dialogue begun at the G20 summit develops into concrete investments, the plateau could witness a new era of economic optimism, improved livelihoods, and sustained growth.
