The Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal has inaugurated the upgraded Sokoto State Investment House, SOSIH.
DAILY NIGERIAN reports that the edifice which houses the state’s Internal Revenue Services and Sokoto Geographical Information Systems, SOGIS, is also the operational base of TAJ Bank, an Islamic banking outfit.
The governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Muhammad Bello, in a statement on Monday, said the upgrade was aimed at opening up the state’s economy towards creating thousands of jobs for indigenous youths.
“The investment company has continued to engage the right professionals and incorporate best practices so as to attain the fundamental goal of bringing to the fore the economy of the state to global capital, technology and talent.
“This can only be achieved through strategic public-private partnership and asset management,” the statement quoted the governor as saying during the inauguration.
“The Investment Company secured approval from the National Identity Management Commission to operate as a license provider for the enrollment of Nigerians for the issuance of the National Identification Number (NIN) in a joint venture with Citizens Helpline Passport Consortium.”
This, he explained, would lead to the establishment of Sokoto Social Security Investment Trust Limited “which will serve as a data mining centre and social security access platform in the state”.
The governor also noted that the establishment was aimed at providing employment for over 2000 youths in the state.
On SOGIS, Governor Tambuwal said it was established to promote good governance and efficient service delivery.
“The agency which is responsible for the management and administration of land and land related matters in Sokoto state, is also expected to develop and maintain a geospatial data base for the state,” he said.
In his speech, the Secretary to the State Government, Saidu Umar, gave kudos to the government for resuscitating the investment building which, according to him, had existed since 1979.
