Governor Uba Sani has stated that the North-West geopolitical zone possesses the capacity to emerge as a center for agricultural output, agro-processing, trade, and skilled manpower.
While delivering the keynote address at the North-West Stakeholders Development Summit held in Kaduna on Saturday, the Governor advised that the summit's proceedings should progress beyond merely diagnosing issues.
He stressed, “Our people are not short of reports; they are short of results,” and urged the summit to “focus on actionable roadmaps, clear timelines, and measurable outcomes.”
Governor Uba Sani also advised the attendees to “identify areas for immediate collaboration. Clarify the roles of federal, regional, and state actors. Establish mechanisms for accountability and learning.”
He noted that the summit's theme, “Advancing a Coordinated Regional Development Agenda for North-West Nigeria,” organized by the Joint Senate and House Committee on the North West Development Commission, is central to the region's shared commitment.
The Governor contended that “for too long, development planning in our region has been pursued in silos. Yet the challenges we face are inherently regional.
“Insecurity does not recognise state boundaries. Educational deficits in one state weaken labour markets in another. Economic shocks in a commercial hub reverberate across adjoining rural communities,” he observed.
According to him, Kaduna State has learned that progress accelerates when institutions cooperate and policies are based on evidence and inclusivity.
“This is why we see the North-West Development Commission not as a competitor to state governments, but as a strategic partner; one that can harmonize priorities, reduce duplication, and unlock economies of scale that no single state can achieve alone,” he stated.
The Governor further recommended that human capital development should be the primary focus of the North West Development Commission’s regional strategy.
“Education must be aligned with the needs of a modern economy. Skills acquisition must lead to real jobs and enterprise.
“Agriculture must move beyond subsistence to value-added agribusiness. Industrialization must be pursued not as an abstract aspiration, but through practical linkages between infrastructure, finance, and markets,” he advised.
He highlighted that the residents of the North West zone represent the geo- political zone's most significant asset, noting its status as having one of the youngest demographic profiles in the country.
The Governor argued that this demographic reality necessitates that the North West “invest deliberately in education, skills, and productive opportunities, thereby transforming our youthful population into a demographic dividend.”
He cautioned that failure to do so would result in frustration, unemployment, and social disruption, thereby jeopardizing the stability of the North West.
The Governor commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for establishing the North- West Development Commission, emphasizing that “enduring regional disparities cannot be resolved through fragmented, centrally driven interventions alone.”
According to Governor Uba Sani, such disparities “require purpose-built institutions, endowed with clarity of mandate and a long-term outlook.”
He pointed out that despite the region’s substantial contributions to Nigeria’s agricultural output, commerce, and human capital, it has fallen behind in crucial infrastructure, industrial development, and social investment.
The Governor added that the Commission was “designed as a vehicle for structural transformation; one capable of addressing interconnected deficits in infrastructure, economic opportunity, education, healthcare, and skills development in a coherent and sustained manner.”
“The success of the North-West Development Commission will not belong to any single administration or institution. It will belong to the millions of citizens whose lives it improves,” he concluded.
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