The Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation has concluded a two-day interactive session in Kaduna, calling for institutionalised dialogued between government and citizens, deeper inclusion in governance, and a renewed commitment to equity and national unity.
The event, held from July 29 to 30, 2025, at Arewa House, carried the theme “Assessing Electoral Promises: Fostering Government-Citizen Engagement for National Unity.”
It brought together a wide spectrum of stakeholders, including senior government officials, security chiefs, civil society actors, religious and traditional leaders, academics, and development partners, to assess governance progress and discuss pathways for inclusive national development.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, was represented by the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, while Vice President Kashim Shettima, GCON was represented by Dr. Aliyu Modibbo Umar, Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties. Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani served as the chief host, and Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State, who chairs the Northern States Governors’ Forum, attended as a special guest.
In his keynote address, Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Professor Tijjani Mohammed Bande, GCON, highlighted regional and global challenges, noting Nigeria’s resilience in tackling insecurity, poverty, and educational deficits. He encouraged Northern Nigeria to adopt strategic mechanisms to advance its interests within a broader national development agenda.
Throughout the sessions, participants acknowledged the administration’s significant strides in areas such as security, infrastructure development, and economic reforms. The forum also reflected on the North’s crucial role in ensuring political stability and electoral outcomes across the country.
However, participants raised concerns about the growing number of out-of-school children and the long-standing issue of the Almajiri system. They emphasized that these challenges require urgent attention through substantial investment in education, especially in Northern Nigeria. Equitable distribution of resources was also highlighted as a necessary step to address regional disparities and promote inclusive growth.
The summit recognized ongoing infrastructure projects, including the AKK gas pipeline, Kolmani oil exploration, and rural irrigation schemes, as evidence of the federal government’s commitment to regional development. Participants stressed the importance of strengthening agricultural value chains, livestock development, and the establishment of agro-allied industries to drive economic diversification and job creation.
There was strong support for community-driven and non-kinetic approaches to security and economic reforms. Engaging civil society, traditional rulers, and religious leaders in policy advocacy and public mobilization was seen as vital to achieving lasting peace and trust in governance. Stakeholders also called for responsible media practices to support national unity and cohesion.
The dialogue emphasized the need for stronger regional collaboration among Northern states to deepen engagement with the federal government and push for shared development priorities. Enhanced cooperation between federal and subnational actors was viewed as essential for sustained progress.
In his closing remarks, Engr. (Dr) Abubakar Gambo Umar, Director-General of the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation, lauded the robust turnout of dignitaries and reiterated the Foundation’s commitment to inclusive governance and democratic accountability.
“The summit reaffirms Northern Nigeria’s appreciation of the current administration’s efforts while recognizing the challenges that remain,” Umar said. “We call for increased transparency, fairness, and equity as critical ingredients for sustaining national unity, democracy, and peace.”
The Foundation also acknowledged President Tinubu’s consistency in promoting dialogue, building on the tradition of the October 2022 engagement with presidential candidates, which laid the groundwork for continued government-citizen interaction.
