By Ali Abare

As a leader who has come to change the narrative, Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State is fully aware that when it comes to sustainable development, it is about building people, not just bridges, a perception that has become the guiding principle of his administration over the past six years.

Indeed, under the present administration led by Governor Sule, it is not all about bridges, whether flyover or underpass in Nasarawa State, it is about deliberate policies geared towards changing the narrative in good governance and service delivery.

It is little wonder that the mantra of the Governor Sule administration, which is, ‘Exceeding All Expectations’, is being achieved, if not surpassed, especially with the good fortunes occassioned by the economic policy of the President Ahmed Bola Tinubu which is resulting into more inflow in resource allocation to states.

While questions are being raised regarding the utilisation of these excess funds accruing to states across the federation, it is not too difficult to uncover how Governor Sule is channeling these funds towards uplifting the standard of living of the people and spreading prosperity.

When questions are being asked on how the huge funds accruing to the states were being utilised, in Nasarawa State, it is not too difficult to see how Governor Sule is laying a solid foundation for the prosperity of the state, turning lithium into processed batteries and eventually electric vehicles at Avatar Energy’s $250 million plant, converting cassava farms into starch factories and equpping youths with vocational skills at one of the best skills acquisition centres in the country, the Wing Commander Abdullahi Ibrahim Vocational Institute Lafia.

Indeed, in Nasarawa State, development isn’t measured by flyovers alone, but by how industrial strategy and human investment converge to create sustainable prosperity from the ground up. As President Tinubu rightly observed recently, after his one-day working visit to the state, Nasarawa under the Governor is building with purpose, investing in its people, creating jobs, empowering women, and ensuring that the gains of democracy are visible in the lives of citizens.

Therefore, contrary to the bleak assessment of state-level governance in some quarters, Nasarawa has channeled increased revenues into cornerstone human capital and industrial development, creating a blueprint for sustainable prosperity that extends far beyond flyovers.

The cornerstone of Nasarawa’s progress lies in Governor Sule’s deliberate industrialization strategy, encapsulated in the Nasarawa Economic Development Strategy (NEDS) and vigorously pursued through the Nasarawa Investment and Development Agency (NASIDA).

This framework is transforming the state into Nigeria’s emerging mining powerhouse, attracting landmark investments like the $250 million Avatar lithium processing plant in Udege, capable of producing 4,000 metric tonnes daily, alongside three other major mining operations targeting over 25,000 combined tonnes per day.

Most significantly, Governor Sule’s Executive Order mandating on-site mineral processing has revolutionized value addition within the state and even across the country, ensuring that raw materials aren’t exported in their raw forms, but transformed locally, creating jobs and technology transfer.

The strategic establishment of the Nasarawa Technology Village near Abuja, featuring a tech hub partnership with Decagon Institute, further illustrates how the administration is building ecosystems rather than isolated projects .

Simultaneously, the agricultural revolution unfolding across Nasarawa’s fertile landscape demonstrates how subsidy savings can catalyze inclusive growth. So far, over 30 tractors have been purchased and distributed to farmers in the state as part of the ongoing efforts to boost agricultural production and enhance food security.

When Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima recently declared Nasarawa an agricultural powerhouse positioned to feed the nation, he acknowledged tangible outcomes: the state’s partnership with LOVOL for advanced farm machinery, the establishment of a cassava starch processing plant through Chinese investment, and the development of a cutting-edge sesame processing facility in Azuba capable of handling 10 tons hourly.

These initiatives stem from the Governor’s recognition that the future of the state lies in commercial agriculture and industrialization, a vision actualized through mechanization support to local government areas, strategic land allocation for large scale agribusinesses, and the revolutionary tractor manufacturing partnership between NASENI, Bobtrack Tractors, and the state government.

It is to be envisaged that by processing what they grow, Nasarawa’s farmers are escaping the age-long raw materials trap thereby unleashing their capabilities to turn around their economic fortunes.

In healthcare and education, the administration has pursued systemic reforms rather than token projects. The Nasarawa State Health Insurance Scheme’s Equity Programme stands as a model of social protection, with 0.5% of consolidated revenue constitutionally dedicated to covering premiums for vulnerable citizens.

This commitment to universal health coverage was recently expanded through a domestic resource mobilization initiative targeting 250,000 vulnerable enrollees, and complemented by local governments adopting 2,000 beneficiaries each.

In unison, the transformation of healthcare infrastructure, from upgraded primary centers to modern hospitals in Akwanga and Nasarawa, demonstrates how financial prudence enables service expansion.

Education reforms reveal similar depth: recruitment of over 8,000 teaching staff across institutions, establishment of engineering and medical faculties at Nasarawa State University, and strategic scholarship programs. The conversion of a former nursing school into a College of Nursing Sciences epitomizes this commitment to institutional capacity over ribbon-cutting.

Only recently, Nasarawa State University Keffi attained a milestone after being ranked number university in the country for quality education as captured in the 2025 edition of the Times Higher Education (THE) impact ranking. This prestigious recognition places NSUK at the forefront among 31 Nigerian universities assessed under Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4).

For youth empowerment, the administration has pioneered skills-to-industry pipelines that address unemployment’s structural roots. Beyond the state’s N500 million SME fund with the Bank of Industry, the establishment of a state-of-the-art vocational and skills acquisition centre in Lafia provides training in welding, computer literacy, and building trades, directly aligning with industrial needs.

Drawing from his experience at the Dangote Group, which was forced to import certified technicians from India to work on its refinery in Lagos, Governor Sule established the Wing Commander Abdullahi Ibrahim Vocational Institute Lafia, with a view meeting the national demand for competent and certified technicians.

This dual approach merges immediate job readiness with long-term entrepreneurship support, creating what Commissioner of Education, Hon. John Mamman termed, “opportunities for social mobility through education and skills.”

When trainees in their thousands graduated from this institute, certified as the best by the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), during the Vice President’s visit, they embodied the human dividend of this policy integration.

Governance innovations underpin these achievements. Sule’s distinctive transparency – exemplified by creating dedicated accounts for the N3 billion flood relief fund and publicly declaring all federal allocations, has rebuilt public trust while enabling efficient resource deployment.

The administration’s participation in the World Bank’s SABER program reflects its commitment to systemic reform, having already developed frameworks for responsible land acquisition that balance investor needs with community rights. This meticulous institution-building explains how Nasarawa secured $4 million for its One-Stop Investment Centre, an anti-corruption landmark consolidating regulatory functions to eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks.

It is on record that Nasarawa State is the first state in the country to establish an independent agency for human capital development, with the state recently unfolding the Nasarawa State Human Capital Development Strategy, as well as the Nasarawa State Gender Transformative Human Capital Development Policy Framework.
According to Governor Sule, these frameworks are actionable road maps that would further guide the government interventions in education, healthcare, infrastructure and economic empowerment.

The narrative unfolding in Nasarawa reveals what becomes possible when subsidy savings meet strategic vision: lithium processing plants rising from mineral-rich soils, tractors assembled in Lafia rolling toward mechanized farms, and technology villages nurturing the digital workforce.

While physical infrastructure like the pioneering flyover and Lafia Stadium upgrades serve important functions, they exist as complements rather than substitutes for this deeper development architecture.

As Nigeria grapples with the subsidy removal’s painful transition, Nasarawa demonstrates that when states invest in human capabilities, industrial ecosystems, and accountable institutions, bridges become not the destination but mere conduits to broader prosperity.

Certainly, the state’s true achievement lies in building an economy where flyovers will eventually carry trucks filled with locally processed minerals, farm produce, and manufactured goods, tangible returns on the people’s sacrifice that transcend concrete and steel.

It is therefore not surprising that President Tinubu after commissioning some legacy projects in Lafia recently, commended Governor Sule for translating policy into progress, while urging other subnational leaders to do the same.

President Tinubu was particularly impressed by the Governor’s commitment to peace and security, as well as his determination to protect the lives and properties of the citizens of the state through the provision of operational vehicles to security agencies operating in the state.

Abare is the Senior Special Assistant on Media to Governor Sule.