Abdurrahman Bello Dambazau won't rest until Nigeria benefits from his new posting. The ambassador-designate to China made this pledge during a reception in Kano on Thursday.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed him to the role. Dambazau said he's ready to sacrifice personal comfort for the job.
"This posting is not for me; it is for all of us," he told attendees. According to him, his tenure should deliver results that matter to Kano and the nation.
He painted Kano as Nigeria's and West Africa's trading heartland. Business links between the state and China run deep, he noted.
Dambazau revealed something striking about his appointment. He learned of the decision during Umrah in Makkah when Tinubu called him directly.
"I was not expecting it. I had moved on with my life, but when the call came, I accepted it as a duty to serve," he explained.
As a former army chief with an academic background, he admits gaps in his resume. Experience in business and China doesn't define his portfolio.
But he's confident in his next move. He'll lean heavily on Kano traders who've dealt with China for decades.
"Most of you have been doing business with China for decades. I will depend on your guidance so that we succeed together," he noted.
Commitment will define his tenure, Dambazau stressed. He won't shy away from hardship if it serves national interests.
"I will deny myself comfort if necessary because I want Kano and Nigeria to benefit from this opportunity," he remarked.
Kano Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (KACCIMA) backed his appointment enthusiastically. Officials cited his track record in public service as proof of his capability.
The chamber urged him to attract Chinese manufacturers to Nigeria. Such moves would lower production costs and ignite industrial expansion, they argued.
KACCIMA also pushed for renewable energy partnerships with China. Solar and wind power projects could tackle Nigeria's electricity crisis, they suggested.
Officials expressed faith in his ability to strengthen ties. They believe he'll champion Nigeria's economic interests abroad effectively.
