Kano Hosts PEBEC National Engagement Meeting to Advance Business Reforms

As part of its nationwide engagement across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, the **Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) held a technical workshop and town hall meeting in Kano State** on Tuesday. The event took place at The Afficient Marque, Sultan Road, and brought together key stakeholders from both the public and private sectors to foster collaboration on improving the ease of doing business.

The day-long event featured two sessions—morning and afternoon—each dedicated to engaging a wide spectrum of stakeholders, including policymakers, business leaders, and government officials.

The morning session witnessed participation from several ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) in Kano State. Notable attendees included:

Engineer Nuruddeen Ahmad, Director of Planning and Research, who represented the Honourable Commissioner for Investments, Commerce, and Industry, **Alhaji Shehu Sagagi

Hajiya Amina Ibrahim, Director of ICT, representing the Honourable Commissioner for Land and Physical Development, Alhaji AbdulJabar Umar Garko

Alhaji Muhammad Naziru Ibrahim, Director General of the Kano Investment Promotion Agency (KANINVEST)

Alhaji Tijjani Aliyu Danzabuwa, Acting Managing Director of the Kano State Tourism Board

In his welcome address, Alhaji Muhammad Naziru Ibrahim reaffirmed the commitment of the Kano State Government to supporting the Federal Government’s business reform agenda. He emphasised Kano’s historical significance as Nigeria’s commercial hub and expressed optimism about the potential of federal reforms to enhance local enterprise development.

He also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for driving the PEBEC initiative, urging Kano’s residents to seize the opportunities created by the programme.

PEBEC’s Role and Vision

Speaking on behalf of PEBEC, Dr Bello Adewale, the team lead, outlined the council’s role as a technical development partner under the **State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER) framework. According to Dr Bello, PEBEC is committed to offering subnational governments targeted technical support aimed at improving their ranking in the national ease of doing business index.

He revealed that the forthcoming 2025 Subnational Ease of Doing Business Report would highlight Nigeria’s ten most business-friendly states. He also clarified that the town hall engagements form part of an annual initiative held between May and June each year.

### *Technical Session Highlights

The technical session featured panel discussions moderated by key officials from state MDAs. Panelists discussed various reforms and interventions their respective agencies had undertaken to reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks and create a more enabling business environment in Kano.

Agencies represented included:

* The Ministry of Investments, Commerce, and Industry
* The Ministry of Land and Physical Development
* The Kano Investment Promotion Agency (KANINVEST)
* The Kano Internal Revenue Service (KIRS)

Each speaker detailed specific steps being taken to simplify processes, promote transparency, and support local entrepreneurs.

### **Call to Action**

In his closing remarks, **Alhaji Tijjani Aliyu Danzabuwa**, Acting Managing Director of the Kano State Tourism Board, praised the Federal Government for hosting the engagement in Kano. He called on the state’s business community to leverage the insights and support provided through PEBEC to grow their enterprises and contribute meaningfully to the state’s economic development.

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**Tags:** PEBEC, Ease of Doing Business, Kano State, Business Reforms, Education Vanguard

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