IN a moment marked by growing public skepticism toward governance and deepening social divides, a bold gathering in Kaduna, Northern Nigeria, stood out not as a ceremonial event, but as a real-time example of what inclusive governance can look like. Some figures were represented.
Held at the historic Arewa House, the 2-Day Interactive Programme on Government–Citizen Engagement for National Development brought together an impressive constellation of Nigeria’s federal ministers, security chiefs, state governors, development agencies, civil society organizations, and citizen voices.
Themed “Assessing Electoral Promises: Fostering Government–Citizen Engagement for National Development”. The event served as a critical check-in—two years into the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
What set this forum apart was not just its timing or its theme. It was its tone of unity, its breadth of participation, and its intent to build a people-centered roadmap for the region and the country at large.
A Region United Across Political And Institutional Lines
The highlight of the event came from Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, former Governor of Niger State and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation. His message was clear and urgent: The North must rise beyond political division and act as one if it hopes to move forward. This was not political theatre; it was an appeal to reason, anchored in years of public service and governance experience.
From the opening address by Engr. (Dr.) Abubakar Gambo Umar, Director General of the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation, to the keynote by Prof. Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, a former President of the UN General Assembly, the programme elevated dialogue over division and data over rhetoric.
Vice President Sen. Kashim Shettima and Secretary to the Government of the Federation Sen. George Akume set the federal tone, reaffirming the administration’s commitment to fulfilling promises made to Nigerians in 2023.
Who Was In The Room: Power And The People
The list of attendees read like a who’s who of Nigeria’s public administration, including:
• National Security Adviser – Mallam Nuhu Ribadu
• Chief of Defence Staff – Gen. Christopher Musa
• Inspector General of Police – IGP Kayode Egbetokun
• Director-General, DSS
• GCEO, NNPC Ltd
• Minister of Defence – Dr. Muhammad Badaru Abubakar
• Minister of State for Defence – Dr. Bello Matawalle
• Minister of Education – Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa
• Minister of State for Education – Dr. Suwaiba Said Ahmad
• Minister of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy – Barr. Hannatu Musawa
• Coordinating Minister of Health & Social Welfare – Dr. Ali Pate
• Minister of State, FCT – Dr. Mariya Mahmoud Bunkure
• Minister of State Federal Ministry of Housing & Urban Dev. Rt. HON. Yusuf A. Ata
• Minister of Women Affairs – Barr. Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye
• Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation – Dr. Betta Edu
• DG, NITDA – Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi
• Executive Secretary, Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education Commission – Dr. Abubakar Saddique
• CEO, North West Development Commission – Mohammed Danlami Kurfi
• President Tinubu Media Aide Abdulaziz Abdulaziz
Others include Governors of Gombe (Inuwa Yahaya), Kaduna (Uba Sani), and Kwara (AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq) chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum and many other dignitiries present.
This fusion of political leadership, institutional representation, civil society, and grassroots voices provided a platform for constructive scrutiny, transparent feedback, and renewed commitments to the developmental aspirations of Northern Nigeria.
Framing The Future: Thematic Plenaries For Action
The programme was structured around five high-level plenaries, each showcased level of efforts in tackling a critical dimension of development by the administration as follows:
1. National Security
2. Governance and Economy
3. Agriculture and Food Security
4. Infrastructure
5. Human Capital Development
Why This Matters, And Why It Must Not End Here
At Sustainable Innovation and Development Solutions (SIDES), we see this gathering not as an event, but as a turning point. It reaffirmed what we’ve always believed: solutions for the North must come from the North, guided by evidence, powered by community, and delivered with integrity.
Our work continues engaging governors, professionals, CSOs, youth, and women, co-creating innovations in health, education, leadership, and livelihoods across communities. But what Kaduna gave us was rare: clarity, inclusion, and momentum.
If Nigeria is to meet its development goals both SDGs and Vision 2050 this model of open governance and participatory review must be replicated, funded, and scaled up.
Because when leaders listen, citizens speak. When citizens speak, governments learn. And when both come together, nations evolve.
- Dr Sufi is Founder of SIDES and writes from Kaduna.