Kehinde Fajobi
President Bola Tinubu has reiterated the importance of Northern Nigeria’s development for the nation’s overall prosperity.
Speaking at the Stakeholders Roundtable on Northern Youth Development in Abuja, organised by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation, Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, emphasised the need for collective growth.
In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Stanley Nkwocha, Tinubu said, “The late Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto, was one of the towering giants on whose shoulders we have ascended as a nation.
“His vision was clear: the North cannot progress in isolation, and Nigeria cannot prosper unless every part of this nation thrives.”
He stressed that neglecting any region disrupts national growth, adding, “For far too long, we have been taunted as a nation with the most children out of school, a reality that should not elicit pride but provoke urgent action.”
Tinubu outlined several initiatives targeting youth development, including the 3 Million Technical Talent programme, the Presidential Initiative for Youth Enterprise Clusters, and the Nigerian Youth Academy.
Other programmes include the Nigeria Education Loan Fund, the Skill-Up Artisans Programme, and the National Youth Talent Export Programme.
“Our creative and digital economy is another goldmine,” he said, noting that these initiatives aim to equip young Nigerians with skills and opportunities to succeed globally.
Plans for a National Youth Development Bank and a Youth Data Bank were also announced to provide financial and informational support.
The President highlighted the North’s agricultural potential, stating, “Investments in agriculture and industrialisation will further position the North as Nigeria’s foremost agricultural hub.”
On security, he proposed measures such as community policing, rehabilitation of displaced persons, and addressing cross-border challenges like smuggling and insurgency.
Tinubu expressed urgency about harnessing Nigeria’s youth potential, saying, “By 2050, Nigeria will become the third-largest nation globally, with three-quarters of our citizens under the age of 21.
“Our challenge here is to engineer a transition towards a federation defined by order, stability, and safety.”
Addressing young Nigerians directly, Tinubu said, “You are not just the future of this nation—you are its present. Your energy, ideas, and determination are already shaping our policies and programmes.”
He also called for greater local government autonomy to deliver democracy’s benefits nationwide.
Dr Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, former Niger State Governor and Chairman of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees, marked the Foundation’s 15th anniversary by urging collaborative solutions for Northern development.
He noted, “The youth are not just the leaders of tomorrow; they are the driving force of our present and our future.”
The Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar II, stressed education’s importance, saying, “Our youths are the foundation of any development we envisage in our society. Without education, you are nobody.”
He urged the government to prioritise education as the strongest legacy a leader can leave.
He concluded, “More money should be spent educating our children. We must ensure that education remains at the top of the government’s priority list.”