North’s development central to Nigeria’s prosperity, says Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu, yesterday, declared that the development of Northern Nigeria remains fundamental to the nation’s prosperity. This came, as he 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, the President, represented by 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.

Tinubu warned that “whatever disrupts the growth of one region sets back the entire nation.” He went on: “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.”

Tinubu re-echoed 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).

On agriculture, Tinubu emphasised the North’s strategic importance, saying: “Investments in agriculture and industrialisation will further position the North as Nigeria’s foremost agricultural hub.”

He 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.

With Nigeria projected to become the world’s third-largest nation by 2050, the President emphasised the urgency of the moment. He added that his administration’s promise was “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 body’s 15th anniversary. The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar II, stressed the critical role of youth education in national development.