DRIVING REFORMS FROM POLICY TO PRACTICE: SABER WORKSHOP AND STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT IN JIGAWA

Jigawa State continues to lead the charge in subnational business reforms, emerging as one of Nigeria’s top-performing states in the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC)’s Ease of Doing Business (EoDB) rankings. Through the State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER) program—coordinated by InvestJigawa and the state’s EoDB Steering Committee—Jigawa has rolled out bold, targeted reforms aimed at simplifying regulatory processes, improving transparency, and enhancing service delivery across MDAs.

These reforms are rooted in continuous stakeholder engagement, technical validation workshops, and a strong feedback culture that ensures the private sector is not only heard but actively involved. This focused approach propelled Jigawa from 3rd place in PEBEC’s 2021 Subnational EoDB report to 2nd place in 2023, with a national score of 6.79 and the highest ranking in the North-West zone. Infrastructure and security were identified as the leading drivers of investor satisfaction.

As part of efforts to sustain and deepen these reforms, on June 30, 2025, InvestJigawa hosted the Jigawa State leg of the PEBEC Nationwide Ease of Doing Business Tour, bringing together government leaders, private sector stakeholders, and reform experts to advance collaborative action.

The morning session, themed Technical Workshop on the SABER Program, featured an in-depth breakdown of the Disbursement Linked Indicators (DLIs), a comprehensive review of the 2023 Subnational EoDB Report, and an interactive Q&A session that enabled real-time learning and collaboration.

The afternoon session—Private Sector Stakeholder Engagement—shifted the spotlight to dialogue and co-creation. Welcome remarks were delivered by His Excellency, the Deputy Governor of Jigawa State, Engr. Aminu Usman, while DG InvestJigawa, Aisha Sheik Mujaddadi, gave the vote of thanks. PEBEC leadership and other key speakers set the tone for rich discussions on reform challenges and emerging opportunities, culminating in practical feedback from private sector participants.

This engagement was not merely ceremonial—it reaffirmed Jigawa’s unwavering commitment to translating policy into practice. The state is fast becoming Nigeria’s next investment frontier. Jigawa’s ability to align national reform policies with subnational implementation represents a sustainable and inclusive model for long-term development.

🔍 Key Highlights & Investor Benefits

• Streamlined Efficiency: Licensing, approvals, and investor support services are now more transparent, faster, and centrally coordinated through InvestJigawa.
• Strategic Reform Alignment: Jigawa’s ongoing collaboration with PEBEC ensures its reform agenda remains aligned with national benchmarks and global best practices.
• Expanding Sector Opportunities: Jigawa is ripe for investment across priority sectors—agro-processing, light manufacturing, renewable energy, solid minerals, and logistics.

✅ What Comes Next

The state is now transitioning from planning to execution—deploying tools, refining regulatory frameworks, and launching sector-specific incentives tailored to investor needs. Guided by real-time data and continuous feedback, InvestJigawa remains committed to making Jigawa the most attractive and competitive destination for doing business in Nigeria.