President Bola Tinubu has underscored the critical role of Northern Nigeria’s development in securing the prosperity of the entire nation. Addressing the Stakeholders Roundtable on Northern Youth Development, organized by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation in Abuja on Tuesday, Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, laid out a comprehensive youth-focused strategy targeting education, entrepreneurship, and security.

Invoking the legacy of Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto, Tinubu stated, “The North cannot progress in isolation, and Nigeria cannot prosper unless every part of this nation thrives.” He stressed that challenges in one region inevitably impact the whole country.

The President highlighted Nigeria’s distinction as the nation with the highest number of out-of-school children globally, calling it a national crisis demanding urgent solutions. He emphasized the need to convert the country’s population into an asset rather than a liability.

Tinubu introduced several initiatives as part of his administration’s youth development agenda, including:

– 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) Initiative

– Skill-Up Artisans Programme (SUPA)

– Nigerian Youth Academy (NIYA)

– National Youth Talent Export Programme (NATEP)

– Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) to expand access to higher education.

– Investment in Digital and Creative Enterprises (iDICE) to foster digital entrepreneurship.

In agriculture, Tinubu reiterated the North’s strategic importance as Nigeria’s agricultural hub, with plans to drive investments in agribusiness and industrialization. He also announced the establishment of a National Youth Development Bank and a Youth Data Bank to provide financial and informational resources tailored to young Nigerians.

On security, the President highlighted plans to restore stability in the North by enhancing community policing, rehabilitating displaced persons, and addressing cross-border issues like smuggling and insurgency.  Encouraging the youth to embrace their roles in shaping the nation, Tinubu declared, “You are not just the future of this nation; you are its present.”He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to equipping them with the skills and opportunities needed to thrive in a competitive world.

The Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, echoed the need for ongoing dialogue, emphasizing, “Forums like this must be held continuously to engage with our youths across the northern states.”

Former Governor of Niger State and Chairman of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, also contributed to discussions that centered on education, entrepreneurship, and security as essential pillars for sustainable development in Northern Nigeria.

The roundtable concluded with a call for collaborative efforts to address the challenges facing Northern Nigeria’s youth and unlock their potential for national progress.