Hon. Musa Asiru Bakare, a member of the Governing Council of Waziri Umar Federal Polytechnic, Birnin Kebbi, has commended the Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, for his significant accomplishments in rejuvenating, repositioning, and revamping the fortunes of the Ajaokuta Steel company within the short period of assuming office.
He noted that President Bola Tinubu made an excellent choice in appointing Prince Audu as the Minister of Steel Development.
Hon Bakare made this known when he paid a courtesy visit to the Minister in Abuja on Wednesday.
Hon. Bakare emphasized the pivotal role the steel industry is poised to play in transforming Nigeria’s economy and highlighted its potential to generate employment for the country’s substantial population of unemployed youths.
He also commended the minister’s numerous empowerment and palliative initiatives, which have positively impacted the lives of people in Kogi State and across Nigeria.
During the visit, Minister Audu expressed his pleasure in receiving Hon. Bakare and lauded his untiring efforts and dedication to promoting the achievements of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress through his writings.
He encouraged Hon. Bakare to maintain the steadfast loyalty and resilience, assuring him that such commitment would be duly recognized and rewarded.
Minister Prince Audu has been actively engaging international partners to revitalize Nigeria’s steel industry. In February 2025, he met with representatives from organizations such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), and the African Export-Import Bank to seek financial and technical support for the sector. He emphasized that substantial investment is required to upgrade infrastructure and enhance the operational capacity of the industry, aligning with Nigeria’s industrialization agenda.
In October 2024, Minister Audu led a powerful Nigerian delegation to the International Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC) in Sydney, Australia, to attract foreign investors to Nigeria’s steel and metals sector. He highlighted Nigeria’s rich natural resources and strategic location as key advantages for investors, aligning with President Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda” to create an enabling environment for industrial growth.
These initiatives reflect the ministry’s commitment to revitalizing the steel industry, which is expected to play a crucial role in Nigeria’s economic diversification and job creation efforts.
