Governors from the Northwest geopolitical zone of Nigeria on Friday 17 May 2024, met with the United Nations Country Team led by the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Mohamed Malick Fall, and they have asked the UN to support their states to deal with the numerous development challenges they face.
The Chaiman of the Northwest Governors Forum and the Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, led other Governors in the zone, including Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani; Governor of Kano State, Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf; Jigawa State Governor, Mallam Umar Namadi; Sokoto State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Idris Muhammad Gobir; and Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, to the UN House Abuja,
The Governors highlighted the major challenges faced by the region, including insecurity, multidimensional poverty, a large population of out-of-school children, increased cases of illicit drug abuse, high child and maternal mortality, and a large youth population that is unemployed.
“The only way we can surmount the challenges of Northwest is through a regional approach which demands that we work together in a coordinated manner. We need to collectively fight poverty and unemployment being the major root causes of insecurity in the region”, said the Chairman of the Northwest Governors’ Forum.
The UN Resident Coordinator expressed his delight at receiving six of the seven Governors in the zone and he assured that the United Nations family would support the Northwest region to address those development challenges.
“The UN in Nigeria is encouraged by the strong leadership and commitment of Northwest Governors to improving the wellbeing of their people. We will continue to support the government and people of Northwest Nigeria. Together, we will rescue and accelerate the agenda 2030 for sustainable development in the region.” Fall said.
