Salutation:

Your Excellency, the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Kashim Shettima (GCON)

Your Excellencies, The Executive Governors of Northwestern States 

Your Excellency, The Executive Governor of Niger State

Your Excellency, the immediate past President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari

Your Excellencies, The Deputy Governors of Northwestern States

His Royal Eminence Amirul Mu’minin Sheikh As-Sultan Muhammadu Sa’adu Abubakar III, the Sultan of Sokoto

The Rt Hon Speaker of the Northwest State House of Assembly

The Hon Attorney General from the Northwest 

The Hon. Chief Judges from the Northwestern states 

The Hon. Judges and Khadis

The Magistrate and Sharia Court Judges 

Their Royal Highnesses, Emirs from the Northwestern States

The Traditional and Community leaders present 

The United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator 

Your Excellencies the Ambassadors, Heads of International Organizations and members of the Diplomatic Corps

The Development partners present

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen

Ladies and gentlemen,

We are here today because the Northwest region of Nigeria deserves a brighter future. This summit is a vital step towards promoting development and deepening the foundations for peace in a region that has seen more than its fair share of challenges.  

I will not bore you with statistics; you know them all too well. Instead, I wish to focus on how we can unlock and capitalize on the region's untapped potential through the intertwined context of peace, security, and development.

Peace, security, and development are like the three musketeers—inseparable and equally important. Without peace, development stagnates. Without development, peace remains a distant dream; and without security, neither can thrive. Addressing one without the others is like trying to fix a leaking roof during a rainstorm. Bringing development into the picture matters a great deal because it challenges us to pay attention to the root causes of insecurity.  

Nigeria's progress on the Sustainable Development Goals stands at a modest 13%, with the Northwest region significantly lagging behind. This region, home to nearly 30% of Nigeria’s population, is crucial for the nation to achieve its full potential. If Nigeria is to fulfill its promise as the "Giant of Africa," we must pay attention to the Northwest. Let it not appear like lifting a heavy load; if one arm is weak, the entire body struggles.

Your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,

As you have seen in this brief video, the North West region holds immense potential for transformation as we navigate the challenges of fragility. The Region, her people and leaders embody the resilience, hope and potential that needs to be connected to opportunity. 

Minerals alone offer a promising avenue. With close to 40 mineral deposits including gold, copper, gypsum, granite - name them, effective management and governance of these natural resources with appropriate benefit sharing mechanisms devoid of elite capture will not only enrich the region’s coffers but can also pave the way for prosperity. 

Agriculture too can propel the region to new heights. The fertile lands and favorable climate makes this region ripe for modern farming techniques and expanded markets, promising not just food security but robust economic growth and job creation. 

Now let me draw your attention to energy- a big elephant in the room. We all know this region is practically living in the dark, given limited access to the national grid. Without energy, we will be chasing a mirage in our bid to find lasting peace and development. But here is the twist: the region is sitting on a goldmine of renewable energy potential. Picture this- just picture this- a future where all the 48,000 schools and 142 learning and training centers are running on solar energy, the 7500 public health facilities are wind or solar-powered, and our businesses are lit up by the sheer force of nature. Investing in renewable energy here is not just a smart move; it is like finding money in your old jacket. Let us brighten up this beautiful region and watch as innovation and entrepreneurship light up the future.

There is always concern that investors shy away from fragile environments, but the tide is beginning to turn. Global investment models are starting to evolve, with some forward-looking approach and some impact investors working to support in the creation of lasting peace and stability. This region must be positioned as an attractive destination for this new breed of investors, while also strengthening security and business environment to attract the larger pool of conventional investments. After all, who wouldn’t want to invest in a region bursting with potential and determination?

Your Excellencies, Esteemed delegates, 

Central to the transformation vision is the empowerment of the youth as agents of social and economic transformation. Imagine young people as the heartbeat of the region's future—not just idle bystanders, but active participants shaping our collective destiny. Investing in their education, skills, and entrepreneurial spirit isn't just a noble gesture; it's a strategic imperative. Let us think about unlocking their potential – by providing well equipped spaces and catalytic resources that will enable them to experiment, innovate, and build ventures with the potential to create jobs and promote inclusive development.  By channeling their energy into constructive pursuits, we are not only securing their personal growth and future-proofing their agency, but also fortifying the foundation of our region and country’s stability and prosperity. But remember my earlier point, you will not achieve this without concurrently addressing essentials such as energy.

Regional cooperation stands as a cornerstone of the development strategy. I commend the Northwest governors for their commitment to collaborative efforts. I am not saying it will be an easy task for you, but we must all agree that is essential. As an African proverb goes, “The hands that make mistakes belong to those who work.” Let us leverage the strengths of each state, be it in security, governance, social or economic sectors. We must be willing to try, fail, and try again.

As I conclude, I want to extend my deepest appreciation to the governors for partnering with the UNDP as part of the wider United Nations system in this crucial effort to focus attention to the region for lasting peace and development. Special thanks to the Governments of Germany and Norway for the financial support through the UNDP Northwest and Preventive Action Facility Project, and Climate Security investments - which aims to foster collaborative and decisive state-led preventive action efforts, as well as donors supporting the UN Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund implemented here in Northwest Nigeria. Sincere thanks to all our core donors. I would also like to recognize the leadership of our Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations, a daughter of the soil for her continued leadership support and guidance to us in this endeavour as well as the UNDP Regional Director for Africa, Ahunna Eziakonwa, another daughter of the soil for her support. I take this opportunity to thank our United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for ensuring a whole-of-UN-system approach in harnessing the untapped potential of the North Region. 

Let us remember: our journey towards peace, security, and development in the Northwest is a team effort. 

Your excellencies, you have potential on your end side, and together, you can transform challenges into opportunities. 

Let us keep this in mind that we might not be perfect, but we are collectively capable of making a brighter future. And as I always say, we must do this with fire in our bellies because “Niga no dey carry last”.

Thank you!