Personality Profile: Aminu Suleman Takuma, Distinguished Investment Professional

Aminu Suleman Takuma is a distinguished investment professional renowned for his expertise and contributions to the field.

Born on June 18, 1964, in the vibrant city of Kaduna, specifically in the Agwaun Sarki neighborhood. Takuma has established himself as a prominent figure in the investment industry.

With an impressive career spanning several decades, Takuma has demonstrated a deep understanding of financial markets and a keen ability to identify lucrative investment opportunities. His sharp analytical skills, combined with a strong intuition for market trends, have garnered him a reputation for consistently delivering exceptional results.

Takuma's journey in the investment sector began with his passion for finance and his unwavering commitment to continuous learning. He completed his education in a prestigious institution, majoring in economics and finance, which provided him with a solid foundation for his future endeavors.

Throughout his career, Takuma has held various positions in renowned financial institutions, investment firms, and asset management. He has demonstrated exemplary leadership skills and a knack for building strong professional relationships, leading to fruitful collaborations and successful ventures.

Aminu Takuma's investment philosophy revolves around a meticulous research-driven approach, combining fundamental analysis with a comprehensive understanding of macroeconomic factors. This allows him to identify undervalued assets and capitalize on market inefficiencies, ultimately generating substantial returns for his clients and stakeholders.

Beyond his professional achievements, Takuma is also known for his philanthropic endeavors. He firmly believes in giving back to society and has actively participated in initiatives aimed at empowering aspiring entrepreneurs and supporting underprivileged communities.

As an investment professional, Takuma's insights and expertise have been sought after by peers and industry experts alike. He has been a keynote speaker at numerous conferences and has contributed to several publications, sharing his knowledge and unique perspectives on investment strategies.

Professional Summary:

Acting Director (States Coordination Department, NIPC), Member Sub-National Enabling Business Environment Committee, and Coordinator, Invest-in-LAKAJI Corridor States (Lagos-Kano-Jibiya), (A USAID/NEXTT-Project), Aminu Suleman Takuma has over twenty-one years’ experience in investment promotion, facilitation and aftercare services in Infrastructure Development, Agricultural Value Chain and Solid Mineral Development.

Mr. Takuma’s expertise lies in strategic alliances with investors to effectively align with and support key agribusiness investment initiative and infrastructure improvement. He has built and retained high performance teams that provide strategic, operational and administrative services to existing and potential investors by developing and motivating skilled professionals. He has facilitated entrepreneurial ventures, business investment workshops and economic trips to abroad; and holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Operations Research and a Masters in International Affairs & Diplomacy.

Global and Economic Impact:

The Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission is the government agency saddled with the mandate of investment inflow, investment outflow and investment facilitation.

Through the NIPC, Mr. Takuma diligently works to foster and engage investment inflow in infrastructure improvement, solid mineral, agribusiness and economic development projects between Nigeria and rest of the world, recently his mandate to focus on Domestic Direct Investment, which is line with the present Nigerian Government’s Policy direction. Furthermore, he worked with a team of GEMS3 Consultants in developing and encouraging the ‘Certification Programme for States’ NICPS, which was developed by the Commission with the support of GEMS3 and DFID.

The Programme tagged “Nigerian Investment Certification Programme for States (NICPS)” is a practical way of certifying the states that are ready for doing business in a seamless investment process aimed at benefiting relevant stakeholders involved in the investing process to attain a win-win situation.

His wide range of experience and influence as a mediator, negotiator, and advocator makes him a strong contender in creating business opportunities that lend themselves to Nigeria’s overall economic growth and capital development.

With his added knowledge and skills in providing AFTERCARE SERVICES to existing investors in the areas of agribusiness, Mr. Takuma is increasingly becoming a recognized figure in the Nigerian and aboard as the “go to person” when engaging business in Nigeria Professional

Accomplishments:

Personal integrity, ethical behavior, and sound business practices are trademark features of
Aminu Suleman Takuma’s personal persona and perspectives when it comes to building long-term relationships in business.

These trademark features are what sets him apart from other investment promotion professionals looking to support and assist in the investment inflow drive in Nigeria.

A summary of his many accomplishments are listed below:

■Strategic Partnership with GEMS3 Nigerian Investment Certification

■Program for States (NICPS) 2016-2017

■The NICPS is possible through the implementation of three (3) quality standards to improve services provided by States and make them investor friendly.

The standards are:

a. Property: Ability for a State to provide sites and buildings (agricultural sites/lands, warehouses, industrial layouts, commercial buildings etc.) that meet investor’s target and needs in accordance with international best practice.

b. Investor Information: A State should be able to answer investor’s questions accurately, timely, identify and document investment opportunities in line with its comparative advantage as well as understand investor’s needs and priorities.

c. Marketing: A State after putting the aforementioned two (2) standards together will be equipped to promote and sell itself to potential and existing investors.

Strategic Partnership with USAID Nigerian Expanded Trade & Transport 2012-2016

● Take strategic, technical, and conceptual leadership over the development of the LAKAJI Corridor, supported by NEXTT staff of local and international experts;

● Liaise with NEXTT Project Development Fund (PDF) Team to source seed funding for investors in agribusiness and infrastructure improvements along the Corridor. The PDF was established by USAID to catalyze investment by cost sharing feasibility studies, business plans, and other initial stage investments;

● Work closely with institutions such as the LAKAJI Corridor State Committees to further develop their competencies in drive of investments facilitation and aftercare services;

● Interact with State Administrations to enhance their capacity to plan economically, leverage the corridor, and promote investment;

● Lead the capacity building of NIPC officers in Kano and Ibadan to promote and monitor investment.

Inter-Governmental Relations:

• Attended the Annual Investment meeting hosted by the HRH Emir of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed Ibn Rashid Al Maktoum; and facilitated additional funding for Mainstream Limited & North South Power Generation Companies investment in the renewable.

• Member Nigeria South Africa Bi-National Commission

• Lead Facilitator in Creating executive analysis reports highlighting investment issues, potential risk and profit opportunities in investing in the renewable energy sector in the Nigerian economy.

• Committee Member that drafted action plans and participated in meetings with department executives to review investment status in infrastructure (Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy & Rural Electrification) and proposed change

• Update and manage five major investment progress including the Viva Methanol Project located in Lekki, Lagos State

• Using COMFAR III Expert as an analytical tool to determine Cost-benefits analysis for organizing information to aid decisions about the allocation of resources.

• Conducted analysis to address delay and cost on the western transport corridor from Lagos through to Jibiya, which led to government buy-in and USAID funding facilities to bring reduction to both.

• Initiated the modeling, planning and execution of the development of an ultra-modern, inter-model transport terminal (ITTL) in collaboration with the mnagement of Intercity Transport Terminal Limited

• Using COMFAR III Expert, conducted Sensitivity and rick analysis to identify the critical factors influencing the success of an investment in the transport terminal, which are:

1, any unexpected occurrences in the construction of terminal, which might considerably change the cost of the investment in progress; the forecasts of the demand dynamics;

2, rate of change in tariff or fees, largely depending upon the decisions taken by the regulatory agencies;

3,the lack of capacity to respond to shocks in the investment (which often requires excess capacity in the first operating periods); the determining influence of collateral intervention (for example, the effectiveness of water supply is strictly related to the state of the distribution networks); the efficiency of management.

• Developed Business plan for investments in some project, which resulted in getting US EXIM to guarantee the investment as primary guarantors, and NEXIM Bank as secondary guarantors.

• Investment Appraisals of companies seeking tax holiday using computer Model for Feasibility Appraisal and Report (COMFAR III Expert)

• Participate in negotiations in the Bilateral treatises

• Created detailed financial models and analytical tools to facilitate variance analysis for potential investment using the COMFAR III Expert Software.

• Research market trends & surveys; and use information to stimulate business and revenue growth along the LAKAJI Transport Corridor.

• Analyze complex regulation and policy documents that directly impacted on investment related matters in Agriculture and Energy Sector.

• Define project deliverables and monitored status of tasks in specific projects

Schools Attended and NIPC Capacity Building

NYSC 1990

Schools Attended:

1. Waziri Ibrahim Primary School, Minna 1977

2. Government Secondary School, Minna 1981

3. Federal University of Technology B.Sc Maths with Computer Sci. 1990

4. Ahmadu Bello University M.Sc International Affairs & Diplomacy 2012

Capacity Building

• May 2017: World Bank, Training on ECOWAS IPP: Improved Business & Investment Climate in West Africa

• May 2014: UNIDO Vienna, Training on Computer Model for Feasibility Analysis and Reporting Expert (COMFAR III Expert)

• June 2009: System Implementation Specialist, South Africa, Navision Software-Financial Training

• May 2012 United Nations; Training on International Trade Negotiations

• June 2007 Crown Agent UK, Training on Financial Management & Strategic Planning

• February 2002, World Bank; Training on Investment Promotion Skills

• Staff College, Lagos Training on Monitoring and Evaluation

Aminu Takuma's exceptional professionalism and unwavering commitment to his work as an investment expert has garnered recognition from the new executive governor of Niger State, Hon. Umaru Bago. Impressed by his remarkable qualities, Mr. Takuma has been nominated to serve as a commissioner. It is expected that he will soon be officially announced as the honorable Commissioner. This appointment is a testament to Mr. Takuma's expertise and dedication, and it reflects the trust that the governor places in his abilities to contribute to the development and progress of Niger State.

Mr. Takuma is married with five children; Imran, Aisha, Suleman, Adeel, and Adnan.