Kwara State Governor and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, has endorsed the forthcoming North Central Stakeholders Development Summit, describing it as a strategic platform for the region to collectively chart a new course towards sustainable and inclusive development.

Governor Abdulrazaq gave the endorsement when he received members of the Governing Board and Management of the North Central Development Commission (NCDC) at the Kwara State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja.

The North Central Stakeholders Development Summit is scheduled to hold in Abuja from 14 to 15 September 2026, under the theme: “The Great Leap Forward: A 20-Year Economic, Infrastructural and Social Development Plan for the North Central Region.”

The Governor commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for establishing the North Central Development Commission, describing the initiative as timely and commendable, particularly in addressing the region’s longstanding development challenges.

He also commended the NCDC for prioritising the establishment of foundational structures and institutional processes, noting that the forthcoming Stakeholders Development Summit would provide an important platform to aggregate the views, aspirations and concerns of the people of the North Central region.

According to him, such engagement would be critical to developing a long-term development agenda that is inclusive, sustainable and responsive to the realities of the region.

Governor Abdulrazaq urged the Commission to prioritise critical sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, power, commerce, human capital development and entrepreneurship, among others.

He further emphasised the urgent need to improve regional infrastructure and connectivity, particularly through investments in roads and railways, to address longstanding infrastructure gaps that have continued to constrain economic integration and development across the North Central.

The Governor observed that much of the transportation infrastructure inherited from the colonial era was primarily designed around the extraction and movement of resources, with insufficient consideration for connecting communities and economic centres within the region to major national transportation corridors.

He therefore encouraged the NCDC to pursue strategic interventions aimed at strengthening road and rail connectivity across the North Central and enhancing the region’s integration with the wider Nigerian economy.

Governor Abdulrazaq also advised the Commission to sustain and expand its partnerships with Federal Government institutions, State Governments and development partners, particularly by exploring innovative financing mechanisms capable of improving the implementation, quality and sustainability of development projects.

NCDC Seeks Stronger Collaboration with North Central States

Earlier, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the NCDC, Dr. Cyril Yiltsen Tsenyil, expressed appreciation to Governor Abdulrazaq for receiving the Commission’s Governing Board and Management.

Dr. Tsenyil explained that the visit formed part of the Commission’s ongoing engagement with Governors across the seven North Central States, aimed at strengthening collaboration and ensuring that NCDC programmes and interventions are aligned with the development priorities of individual States and the region as a whole.

He disclosed that the NCDC Governing Board had already visited Nasarawa, Plateau, Kogi, Benue and Niger States, where the respective Governors expressed strong support for the Commission and pledged assistance in areas including office accommodation, project vehicles and other institutional requirements.

The NCDC helmsman further informed the Governor that the forthcoming North Central Stakeholders Development Summit would provide a robust platform for stakeholders to deliberate on the future of the region and develop a comprehensive long-term development framework.

He noted that the participation of Governor Abdulrazaq and other Governors from across the North Central would be particularly valuable in helping the Commission identify priority areas requiring intervention and design programmes that respond directly to the needs and aspirations of the people.

Dr. Tsenyil stressed that the NCDC regards the States as partners in development, not competitors, adding that continuous interaction, consultation, collaboration and exchange of ideas would remain central to the Commission’s approach.

He reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to working closely with the seven North Central States towards achieving shared development objectives and accelerating socio-economic transformation across the region.

NCDC Condoles Kwara Government Over Security Incidents

During the visit, Dr. Tsenyil also conveyed the condolences of the NCDC Governing Board and Management to the Government and people of Kwara State over the recent attacks and terrorism-related activities recorded in some parts of the State.

The Commission reaffirmed its solidarity with the people and Government of Kwara State during the challenging period.

The North Central Stakeholders Development Summit is expected to bring together Governors, government officials, traditional institutions, private-sector stakeholders, development partners, civil society organisations, experts and other key stakeholders to deliberate on a long-term development agenda for the region.

2 September 2026