DIPLOMAN TIMES

Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas has launched the state's maiden Solid Mineral Investment Roundtable, commissioned major academic infrastructure at Taraba State University, and unveiled a talent discovery framework for grassroots sports.

Opening the inaugural Taraba Solid Mineral Investment Roundtable in Jalingo, Governor Agbu Kefas announced the formal operationalization of the Taraba Solid Minerals Investment Facilitation Desk. Designed as a one-stop regulatory interface, the facility will streamline mining licensing coordination, geological survey data access, and land acquisition procedures. Minister of Solid Minerals Development Dr. Dele Alake pledged full federal collaboration to transition the state from informal extraction to commercial-scale, licensed mining backed by local mineral processing hubs.

Following the summit sessions, Governor Kefas conducted bilateral meetings with domestic and international mining executives, assuring them of state security backing reinforced by the newly established 10 Division of the Nigerian Army headquartered in Jalingo. However, the Governor insisted that all operating mining entities must execute legally binding Community Development Agreements (CDAs) and strictly prioritize local youth recruitment and environmental remediation across host local government areas.

Transitioning to higher education infrastructure, Governor Kefas attended the combined 10th to 13th convocation ceremony of Taraba State University (TSU) in Jalingo, where he commissioned a 700-capacity ultra-modern lecture theater complex and a modern female hostel facility. TSU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Sunday Paul Bako commended the administration for fulfilling its pledge to reduce student tuition fees by 50 percent and systematically liquidating historical staff earned academic allowances.

In sports development, Governor Kefas attended the grand finale of the Jalingo Champions League at the Jolly Nyame Stadium. The Governor directed the State Sports Commission to immediately establish grassroots talent scouting committees across all 16 Local Government Areas, announced a N5 million cash donation to tournament finalists, and approved contract awards for the total reconstruction of the Jalingo and Wukari municipal stadiums.

The state government confirmed that a specialized State Sports Academy will be established following the upcoming state sports festival. Top athletic talent discovered through regional grassroots competitions will form the foundational recruitment pool for Taraba’s restructured state football teams and Olympic discipline squads, cementing a holistic subnational development agenda.