The North-West Governors’ Forum has committed to addressing critical challenges in the region, including the out-of-school children crisis, poverty, and youth unemployment.
This was discussed on Monday during a meeting hosted by Katsina State Governor Dikko Radda with senior United Nations officials and the African Development Bank (AfDB) at Katsina House, Abuja.
Governors from Kaduna, Zamfara, Sokoto, and Jigawa states also attended. The forum highlighted plans for social protection, education, food security, and climate adaptation, alongside agricultural development initiatives.
The UN Deputy Secretary-General, along with the UN Resident Coordinator, Malick Fall, briefed the forum on progress in various development programmes and strategies for strengthening collective partnerships.
The forum resolved to pursue high-impact interventions focusing on social protection, education, food security, and climate adaptation.
During discussions with the African Development Bank, the forum outlined its plans for agricultural development and value chain enhancement in the region.

Governor Radda highlighted the forum’s deliberations with the bank regarding the Special Agro-Processing Zones Phase 2 implementation strategies and the livestock development plan for the North-West region. While the first phase of the programme included only Kaduna and Kano States, the second phase will encompass all North-West states.
The forum expressed readiness to utilise resources from the Nigeria Education Loan Fund to support students across the region.
In a move to enhance regional coordination, the forum also confirmed Ms Maryam Yahaya as its first Director-General. Ms Yahaya brings extensive experience in international development and has previously worked with the Nigeria Governors’ Forum Secretariat.
Each state governor has designated a focal person to oversee and coordinate development partner programmes within their respective states.
The governors unanimously agreed to work together on economic development, agricultural advancement, reducing the number of out-of-school children, poverty alleviation, and youth employment.
These priorities align with the strategic focus of the various state administrations in the North-West region.