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AT SIR AHMADU BELLO FORUM: North’s Development Central To Nigeria’s Prosperity, President Tinubu Declares

AT SIR AHMADU BELLO FORUM: North’s Development Central To Nigeria’s Prosperity, President Tinubu Declares
*** Targets tech, agric, creative sectors in region’s youth development plan
By: Our Reporter
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu declared on Tuesday that the development of Northern Nigeria remains fundamental to the nation’s prosperity.
Accordingly, the President unveiled a comprehensive youth development strategy spanning multiple key sectors to drive Nigeria’s economic transformation.
Speaking during a Stakeholders Roundtable on Northern Youth Development organised by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation in Abuja, President Tinubu who was represented by his deputy, Vice President Kashim Shettima, invoked the legacy of the late Sardauna of Sokoto and former Premier of Northern Nigeria.
“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 said.
The President warned that “whatever disrupts the growth of one region sets back the entire nation.
“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. This alarming statistic has turned the promise of our population into a challenge rather than the dividend it ought to be,” he added.
President Tinubu reechoed his administration’s pioneering youth development initiatives, including the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme and the Presidential Initiative for Youth Enterprise Clusters.
“Our creative and digital economy is another goldmine,” the President said, outlining programmes such as the Skill-Up Artisans Programme (SUPA), Nigerian Youth Academy (NIYA), and the National Youth Talent Export Programme (NATEP).
He listed other programmes to include the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) for higher education access, Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (iDICE) for digital entrepreneurship, the Outsource to Nigeria Initiative (OTNI) for global market participation, Youth Enterprise Clusters for business development, and the Renewed Hope Housing Scheme to address accommodation needs.
On agriculture, President Tinubu emphasised the North’s strategic importance, saying, “Investments in agriculture and industrialisation will further position the North as Nigeria’s foremost agricultural hub.”
The President also announced plans for a National Youth Development Bank and a Youth Data Bank, describing them as crucial tools for “providing financial and informational support” to young Nigerians.
Addressing the region’s security challenges, President Tinubu further outlined measures “to restore stability to the North,” including “strengthening community policing, rehabilitating displaced persons, and addressing cross-border challenges like smuggling and insurgency.”
With Nigeria projected to become the world’s third-largest nation by 2050, he emphasised the urgency of the moment, just as he said, “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,” he added, noting that “this task is both urgent and achievable.”
The President also made a direct challenge to young Nigerians: “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 emphasised the role of local government autonomy, stating that “for the dividends of democracy to reach every corner of our nation, we must empower local governments to serve as active pipelines of governance.
“Our commitment is to provide you with the skill set and opportunities to thrive in a competitive world,” President Tinubu further assured.
He added that the administration’s promise is “to unlock the potential of the Nigerian youth, ensuring that their dreams transform Nigeria into an enduring symbol of democracy, development, and progress.”
Earlier, former Governor of Niger State and Chairman of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, noted that the event marked the Foundation’s 15th anniversary.
He said, “The youth are not just the leaders of tomorrow; they are the driving force of our present and our future. Addressing their concerns is paramount to the stability and progress of our society.”
Dr Aliyu urged the government to take the recommendations from the discussions seriously for the progress and well-being of Northern Nigeria.
“It is imperative that we approach these discussions with open minds and a collaborative spirit, recognizing that the solutions we seek will require collective effort,” Aliyu added.
Also, the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar II, emphasised the critical role of youth education in national development.
The Sultan said, “Our youths are the foundation of any development we envisage in our society. They are not just leaders of tomorrow but leaders of today.”
The royal father further highlighted the importance of continuous dialogue with the youth, stating that “forums like this must be held continuously to dialogue with our youths across the northern states.”
He emphasised the primacy of education, asserting that “education is the strongest legacy any leader can leave to society.
“Without education, you are a nobody. I believe in infrastructural development like roads and bridges but more money should be spent educating our children,” he maintained.
Urging the government to prioritise education, the Sultan said, “We must ensure that our children are educated. Education must be at the top of the priority of government.
“In Islam, if you don’t even know how to pray and how to worship Allah; if you are an illiterate person, you cannot worship Allah, that is why education is very important. That is why we need to dwell more on how we can ensure that our children are educated.”
AT SIR AHMADU BELLO FORUM: North’s Development Central To Nigeria’s Prosperity, President Tinubu Declares
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Trans-Border Security: Zulum travels to Niger Republic Community

Trans-Border Security: Zulum travels to Niger Republic Community
By: Our Reporter
Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, on Wednesday, undertook a working visit to Diffa Region of Niger Republic on Wednesday.
The visit, which included a high-level security and economic delegation, focused on strengthening the existing collaboration between Nigerian and Nigerien forces in the ongoing fight against insurgency, particularly around the shores of Lake Chad.

Diffa is a community 17 km from Damasak town in northern Borno where thousands of Nigerians displaced by Boko Haram insurgency are currently taking refuge.
Zulum was received by the Governor of Diffa, Brigadier General Mahamaduo Ibrahim Bagadoma, and other senior officials. The leaders held closed-door meetings centered on joint patrols, intelligence sharing, and sustaining the recent gains that have pushed insurgents out of many of their former strongholds.

Zulum outlined plan to leverage the improved security situation to facilitate the return of thousands of displaced farmers to the vast and fertile agricultural lands around Dutchi town within the Lake Chad basin.
Part of the Governor’s entourage are Engr Bukar Talba, a member of the House of Representatives, Speaker, Borno State House of Assembly, Abdulkarim Lawan, and otheir senior government officials.
Trans-Border Security: Zulum travels to Niger Republic Community
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Army Troops neutralised bandit as stray bullet mistakenly hits students during gunfight in Benue

Army Troops neutralised bandit as stray bullet mistakenly hits students during gunfight in Benue
By: Zagazola Makama
A suspected bandit was neutralised by troops of Operation Whirl Stroke during a gun battle in Jato-Aka, Kwande Local Government Area of Benue, on Tuesday, but stray bullets mistakenly hit three students, killing one.
Zagazola Makama report that the incident occurred at about 3:20 p.m. while soldiers were returning from a routine patrol in the area.
The source said trouble started when the patrol team sighted some suspected bandits on a motorcycle carrying firearms.
“On sighting the troops, the hoodlums opened fire. The soldiers immediately engaged them in a gun duel. In the exchange of fire, one of the hoodlums was shot dead, while others escaped, abandoning their motorcycle.
“Unfortunately, three students of Government Science Secondary School, Jato-Aka, who were closing from school at the time, were hit by stray bullets. One female student was later confirmed dead by a doctor at NKST Hospital, Jato-Aka, while the other two were admitted and are responding to treatment,” the source explained.
The corpse of the neutralised bandit was also deposited at the NKST Hospital Mortuary.
Military sources confirmed the incident, stressing that the troops only acted in self-defence after being fired upon by the armed hoodlums.
He described the death of the student as an unfortunate accident, assuring that efforts would be made to prevent a repeat of such incidents.
Zagazola reports that news of the incident triggered a violent protest in Jato-Aka town, as angry youths took to the streets and set ablaze the office of the traditional ruler, Mue Ter.
The Police o confirmed the incident, saying personnel and operatives of the Police Mobile Force were deployed to the area to restore calm.
“The situation has been brought under control and normalcy has returned, but monitoring and patrols are ongoing to forestall further breakdown of law and order,”said the sources.
Meanwhile, authorities have appealed to residents of Jato-Aka to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies as investigations into the incident continue.
Army Troops neutralised bandit as stray bullet mistakenly hits students during gunfight in Benue
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Federal Commissioner PCC visits CP Borno on strategic synergy for better engagement

Federal Commissioner PCC visits CP Borno on strategic synergy for better engagement
By: Our Reporter
The Federal Commissioner, Public Complaints Commission (PCC), Borno State, Hon. Yusuf Adamu, has paid a courtesy visit to the Borno State Commissioner of Police, CP N. ABDULMAJID, to strengthen collaboration between the two institutions in addressing public complaints and enhancing community policing.
Hon. Adamu congratulated the Commissioner on his appointment and thanked him for the immediate attention given to complaints. He said:
“The synergy between the Commission and the Police is vital. We urge the Command to continue to be proactive in handling cases, especially those related to drugs, which are fueling vices such as TikTok and other cybercrime in schools.”
He also urged the Police Command to work closely with community leaders, parents, schools, and religious institutions to address drug abuse among children and young adults. He further linked the PCC’s forthcoming 50th Anniversary to the importance of psychosocial support and thanked the Police Commissioner for assigning an officer to liaise with the PCC in the enforcement unit.

In his response, the Commissioner of Police commended the PCC for consistently referring prosecutable cases to the Police. He assured:
“The same cooperation I experienced with the Commission in my former command will be replicated in Borno. We shall continue to work hand in hand with stakeholders to ensure that complaints are addressed and cases within the PCC’s powers referred for effective investigation.”
He added that community policing had come to stay and would involve community leaders, market women, imams, and parents. He also called for regulation of social media misuse, while urging the PCC to intensify enlightenment of citizens.
The visit featured the signing of the visitors’ book, presentation of the PCC’s Act and mandate, and a group photograph.
End
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