The Borno Development Foundation (BDF) and the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) have formalised a partnership aimed at accelerating socioeconomic development in Borno State and the broader Northern Nigeria region. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in Abuja, signifying a collaborative effort to foster peace, stability, and progress in the area.
The MoU was signed by Mr. Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, Chairman of the Board of Governors of BDF, and Mr. Olaniyi Yusuf, Chairman of the NESG. The collaboration outlines a framework for joint initiatives in policy advocacy, institutional development, research, innovation, and program design and implementation. The partnership intends to address critical challenges including post-conflict reconstruction, poverty reduction, and economic revitalization, with a specific focus on empowering vulnerable populations such as internally displaced persons (IDPs), women, and youth.
The signed document establishes a detailed structure for cooperation, acknowledging that large-scale development requires not only financial resources but also technical expertise, strategic alliances, and mature governance structures, which can be achieved through a coalition of credible institutions.
Speaking at the MoU signing ceremony, retired Air Marshal Allamin Daggash, Chairman of the BDF Board of Trustees, highlighted the Foundation’s commitment to delivering impactful results at the community level while strengthening the long-term resilience of Borno State. “The Borno Development Foundation is a necessary response to extraordinary challenges. It is designed to be a convener, facilitator, and catalyst for sustainable change, grounded in the values of professionalism, inclusivity, and local ownership,” he stated. He further added, “we believe that the people of Borno deserve not just recovery, but true renewal and BDF is here to help make that a reality.”
Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, Chairman of the BDF Board of Governors, emphasized the Foundation’s dedication to strategic partnerships and sustainable development practices. “Our goal is to build a credible, respected institution that will serve the people of Borno with transparency, integrity, and effectiveness. We are committed to fostering broad-based partnerships that mobilise resources, knowledge, and capabilities to meet the urgent and evolving needs of our communities,” he said.
Mr. Olaniyi Yusuf, Chairman of the NESG, commended the vision behind the BDF and affirmed NESG’s commitment to supporting regional development efforts. “Borno’s stability and prosperity are vital to the future of Nigeria.
Through this partnership, we are leveraging NESG’s three decades of experience in economic reform, policy dialogue, and stakeholder mobilisation to support the BDF’s mission of rebuilding lives, institutions, and economies,” Yusuf noted.
Looking ahead, the BDF will prioritize developing its governance systems, expanding its base of both domestic and international donors, and implementing impactful programs in sectors such as education, healthcare, livelihoods, and community rebuilding. The Foundation’s approach will be adaptive, inclusive, and data-driven, with plans for a Knowledge and Resource Centre to inform research-based decision-making and an aim to secure a diverse funding portfolio of USD 1 million from private philanthropy, development agencies, and corporate partners.
As the BDF enters its next phase, the Foundation is calling on all stakeholders—citizens, private sector leaders, philanthropists, development partners, and government actors—to collaborate in shaping a future where every citizen of Borno can prosper.
The Borno Development Foundation presents a new and hopeful path forward, backed by leaders determined in their belief that, with the right institutions, the future of Borno can be transformed.
