Kebbi State is positioning the 2026 Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival as a strategic platform to attract foreign investment and boost economic growth, government officials have said.
The Kebbi Investment Promotion Agency (KIPA) disclosed that investors from Europe and Asia have indicated strong interest in attending the festival, describing the development as the most promising investor engagement linked to the cultural event in recent years.
In a statement made available to journalists on Tuesday, the Director-General of KIPA, Dr. Muhammad Kabir Kamba, said the state government is leveraging the festival to showcase Kebbi’s vast agricultural, solid mineral and livestock potential to international partners.
According to him, the growing interest from foreign investors is a direct outcome of Governor Nasir Idris’s investment-focused diplomacy and reforms aimed at improving the business climate in the state.
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“The interest shown by foreign investors is a direct result of Governor Nasir Idris’s investment diplomacy. They are coming to verify the quality and availability of raw materials in Kebbi State for possible commercial ventures,” Kamba said.
He explained that consultative engagements with local business operators and indigenous entrepreneurs are ongoing to ensure that discussions during the festival translate into concrete partnerships and long-term investments.
Kamba added that Governor Idris has directed all relevant stakeholders to ensure a coordinated and befitting reception for visiting investors, stressing that the festival goes beyond cultural celebration to include business development and economic diversification.
As part of the programme, a special investment forum will be held during the festival, bringing together foreign investors, state institutions and organised local businesses to explore opportunities in agro-processing, mineral development and value-chain industries.
To prepare for international visitors, KIPA has commenced sensitisation of hotel owners and hospitality operators across the state, urging them to upgrade facilities to meet acceptable operational and service standards.
“The government wants visitors to experience Kebbi’s best hospitality and business environment. Hotel facilities must meet standard expectations,” Kamba stated.
First held in 1934, the Argungu Fishing Festival is one of Africa’s most renowned cultural events, attracting tourists, diplomats and cultural enthusiasts from across the world. The festival gained global prominence in the 1970s and early 2000s before being suspended in recent years due to security and logistical challenges.
Officials said the 2026 edition marks a major revival following extensive reforms, security improvements and infrastructural preparations.
In a related development, Governor Idris recently signed a law authorising the issuance of Certificates of Occupancy for residential, commercial and industrial lands, a move analysts say will further enhance ease of doing business and encourage property-based investments in the state.
Economic experts believe the return of the Argungu Festival could reposition Kebbi as a cultural tourism hub while expanding non-oil revenue sources.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Governor of Kebbi State and Chairman of the Festival Organising Committee, Senator Umar Abubakar Tafida, said preparations for the event were in their final stages.
“We are determined to deliver a world-class festival that projects our culture, drives tourism and energises our economy,” Tafida said.
The 2026 Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival is scheduled to hold from February 11 to 14, 2026.