The substantive Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission Saratu Umar on Thursday assumed duty seven years after she was sacked by former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Her assumption of office came after a surprised reappointment
by President Muhammadu Buhari as the CEO of the Commission.

Speaking while taking over the affairs of the Commission, she urged members of staff to concentrate on the tasks ahead inoreder to fulfill the mandate if the Federal Government.

According to her, “Yesterday is gone. Today is a new day. The past is a place of learning, not a place of living. We must stay focused on today and tomorrow, and how to make tomorrow an even greater day.”

She expressed gratitude to President Buhari for finding her worthy of leading the NIPC again.

“Our work is indeed cut out for us. It is with a positive attitude, that we must collectively, forge ahead and be on the frontline as effective advocates of investments in Nigeria, with the objective of making our country a top destination for global private capital.

“Therefore, we must stay focused, be development-oriented, and implement strategies for the greater achievement of our mandate.

“Global Foreign Direct Investment markets over the last decade have become more competitive, and the investment promotion thrust of countries that are attracting the largest global market share of FDI inflows are driven by effective, efficient, and performance-driven Investment Promotion Agencies.”

“If you would recall, my vision when I assumed duty in 2014 was: ‘to transform NIPC into a gold standard of excellence on the African Continent and a world-class Investment Promotion Agency, that is comparable to any in the world’.

“This vision still remains necessary due to the fact that, as the gateway to the Nigerian economy for investors, NIPC should be a strong and a role model public institution with a private sector orientation.

“It should be an African Industry Leader at the forefront of the investment ecosystem, and it should play a central role in our national development, as contemplated by its Act. Today, I still stand firm on this vision and I want to stress it with an even stronger voice.”

She further reiterated her earlier vision to make the Commission one of the best in the comity of Nations.

“We are on the cusp of history, my dear colleagues, and Nigeria needs an NIPC that will maximally deliver on its mandate. Anything short of a world-class Investment Promotion Agency is simply not acceptable” She said.