The Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, on Saturday declared that the Northwest is ready to rise.
Barau said the North will rise not in isolation but in coordinated partnership with Nigeria through the North West Development Commission, NWDC, and Renewed Hope Agenda.
He disclosed this at the stakeholders’ development summit, organised by the National Assembly in collaboration with the NWDC to chart a course for the region.
The summit was held at the Yar’Adua Conference Centre at Murtala Square in Kaduna.
He said: “The Northwest is ready to rise, not in isolation, but in coordinated partnership with the Nigerian Federation through NWDC, Renewed Hope Agenda.
“I am profoundly delighted to be part of this Development Summit dedicated to the future of North West Nigeria, a region whose size, population, cultural influence, and economic potential make it not just a component of the Nigerian federation, but one of its defining pillars.
“Let me start by commending the conveners of this Summit for the the deep thought and foresight in calling this all-important assembly.
“I approach this gathering not merely as a political leader or a critical stakeholder, but as a constitutional trustee of the Nigerian project.
“I stand here with a profound sense of responsibility to ensure that our region does not merely participate in national development, but takes its rightful place in shaping the direction of things.
“The theme of this Summit, “Advancing a Coordinated Regional Development for North West Nigeria, is both timely and intellectually sound. Development in the 21st century is no longer accidental, fragmented, or driven by isolated interventions. It is deliberate. It is coordinated. And above all, it is institutional.
“It was from this understanding that the idea of the North West Development Commission was conceived. The Commission was not created as another bureaucratic layer, but as a strategic institution, designed to aggregate our regional priorities, harmonize development efforts, and provide a long-term framework for addressing the structural challenges that have historically constrained our progress.
“As we are aware, the North West is home to tens of millions of Nigerians. It is Nigeria’s largest agricultural belt, a major contributor to food security, commerce, and human capital.
“Yet we are also confronted by complex challenges, ranging from insecurity and infrastructure deficits to climate stress, youth unemployment, and uneven access to social services. These challenges do not respect state boundaries; therefore, our solutions must transcend them.
“In my view therefore, this Summit is not a ceremonial event. It is a call to strategic thinking. It is an invitation to political coordination, policy coherence, and development partnership. It is about aligning federal vision with state action, legislative oversight with executive implementation, and public ambition with private sector efficiency.
“From the perspective of the National Assembly, I wish to reaffirm that the Legislature remains committed to providing the necessary legal and oversight support required for the North West Development Commission to succeed.
“Sustainable development is not achieved by proclamations alone; it is secured through strong institutions, accountable governance, and consistent political will, all of which are guaranteed under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu – a great lover of the people of North West and Nigeria in general.”
