Zamfara Pushes for Unified Human Capital Development Plan for Northern Nigeria

The Zamfara State government has called for the creation of a unified Northern Nigeria Human Capital Blueprint to accelerate development in the region. This appeal was made during the Summit on Enhancing Human Capital Development in Northern Nigeria, held at the NAF Conference Centre in Abuja on Wednesday.

The state’s delegation, led by the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Bilyaminu Ismail Moriki, submitted the proposal at the event. The summit, themed “Reversing the Decline, Unleashing Potential for Northern Nigeria,” was organised by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation in partnership with the Northern Governors’ Forum.

In the proposal, Zamfara highlighted the region’s challenges, including the highest number of out-of-school children in Nigeria, widespread multidimensional poverty, high maternal mortality, youth unemployment, and insecurity. These issues, the delegation noted, are interconnected and hinder economic growth and productivity.

Moriki stressed that these problems require a coordinated regional response, as no single state can address them alone. He urged Northern governors to collaborate on a Human Capital Development Compact and Regional Blueprint with shared goals, annual progress reviews, peer learning, and joint accountability.

Such a framework would help track progress, mobilise resources, and boost investments in education, healthcare, skills development, and social protection across Northern Nigeria.

The Zamfara delegation also sought special support from the federal government and development partners to enhance human capital development, particularly in vulnerable communities. They acknowledged the unique challenges insecurity poses to education, healthcare, and livelihoods in the state.

Governor Dauda Lawal’s administration has made measurable progress despite these difficulties, but the delegation called for stronger partnerships, increased investment, and sustained collaboration to meet the scale of the challenges.

They specifically requested assistance in areas such as innovative financing, digital transformation, climate resilience, youth employability, girls’ education, social protection, and system strengthening to improve outcomes in fragile and conflict-affected communities.

The delegation included Rt. Hon. Bilyaminu Ismail Moriki, Alh. Yakubu Sani Haidara (Head of Service), Hon. Nura Surajo (Special Assistant on Human Capital Development), Dr. Adamu Barmo (Special Assistant on SDGs), Dr. Husaini Yakubu (Executive Secretary, Primary Healthcare Board), and Alh. Sama’ila Hussaini Kwangwami (ALGON Chairman).

Secretariat members were led by Hajiya Suwaiba Ibrahim (Permanent Secretary, Establishment), with Suleman Ahmad Tudu (SSA, Media), Junaidu Ahmad Janyau (Director, General Services), and Nura Lugga (Deputy Director, Cabinet Affairs) also in attendance.