Northern States Governors’ Forum Chairman calls for urgent NNDC transformation to drive regional economic revival
via Punch Nigeria2 min read
Muhammadu Yahaya, Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum and Governor of Gombe State, has urged the New Nigeria Development Company NNDC to undergo an urgent transformation to address the economic challenges facing Northern Nigeria. Speaking at a retreat in Abuja, Governor Yahaya, represented by Ezekiel Gomos, Director-General of the Northern States Governors’ Forum, emphasized that the NNDC is crucial for the North's economic future and must operate at its full potential. He highlighted pressing issues such as rising unemployment, economic strain, insecurity, and declining investor confidence, stating that institutions like the NNDC must become engines of recovery. Governor Yahaya expressed optimism that the NNDC can become a catalyst for economic revival if its Board and Management demonstrate bold thinking, decisive leadership, and consistent execution. He challenged the NNDC to rediscover its original purpose as a strategic economic vehicle rather than a passive legacy institution, stressing that shareholders expect innovation, growth-oriented thinking, and commercially viable investments. He also urged the NNDC to embrace the digital economy, including opportunities in ICT, fintech, and innovation-driven enterprises, to leverage the entrepreneurial potential of the North's youth. The governor called for a strategic reassessment, suggesting options like restructuring, partnerships, repositioning, or divestment, and linked economic performance directly to regiona
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