Nasarawa Governor Abdullahi Sule hosts a Colombian delegation and NCTC officials for a peacebuilding workshop, tying the state's investment gains — including a major lithium project — to sustained security.
Governor Sule Ties Investment Growth to Peace as Colombian Delegation, NCTC Visit Nasarawa
Lafia — August 4, 2026
Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule has hosted a Colombian delegation alongside officials from the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), under the Office of the National Security Adviser, as part of a field mission aimed at sharing Colombia's experience in reintegration, reconciliation, and women's inclusion in peacebuilding.
The delegation was received at the Government House on Tuesday. The visit forms part of a broader push to shape a national strategy for preventing and countering violent extremism, led on the Nigerian side by Ambassador Abimbola Wonosikou, Director of the NCTC's Directorate of Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism, and on the Colombian side by team lead Mariano Hernandez.
Welcoming the delegation, Governor Sule acknowledged Colombia's own history of overcoming security challenges and said Nasarawa State stood to gain from the country's experience in peacebuilding.
He connected the visit directly to his administration's ongoing investment drive, referencing a recent trip to China where investors expressed strong interest in the state's solid mineral deposits, particularly lithium.
According to the governor, Chinese investors cited the state's peace and security as a key factor behind their decision to establish what he described as Africa's largest lithium mining operation in Nasarawa.
He added that the state is also attracting interest from investors in lead, zinc, and barite, alongside its established strength in agriculture — but stressed that none of this growth would be sustainable without continued peace and stability.
The governor directed relevant ministries, departments, and agencies to participate in the two-day workshop and to cascade the training to others across the state, in line with a train-the-trainer model proposed by the visiting team.
Ambassador Wonosikou explained that the field mission falls under Nigeria's South-South Cooperation partnership with Colombia, noting that Nasarawa was selected because of its distinct security context.
She said the workshop would focus on strengthening women's leadership in stabilisation and countering violent extremism, training 80 women affected by various forms of violent extremism.
Colombian delegation leader Mariano Hernandez said his team came to both share lessons and learn from workshop participants as part of the wider cooperation effort.
In a vote of thanks, NCTC official Halima Dada commended the governor's hospitality and support for hosting the workshop, describing it as a reflection of his commitment to inclusive governance and recognition of women's role in building resilient communities.
She also praised the Secretary to the State Government and other officials for coordinating the visit.
Earlier, Secretary to the State Government, Labaran Shuaibu Magaji, SAN, commended the governor for approving the workshop and accommodating a schedule change requested by the visiting team, describing it as consistent with a people-first approach to governance.
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