Uba Sani: ACF remains North’s intellectual engine room

Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has urged the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) to remain the North’s intellectual engine room by continuing to guide governance, shape policy, foster dialogue, and preserve regional unity.

Speaking through his deputy, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe, at the ACF’s 25th anniversary celebration in Kaduna, the governor described the Forum as a crucial platform for Northern stability and development.

He pledged to work closely with the ACF, the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, sister states, development partners, civil society, and the private sector to build a “secure, inclusive, prosperous, and globally competitive” North.

Reflecting on the ACF’s founding in March 2000, Sani called for renewed commitment to the Forum’s core ideals—unity, justice, dialogue, and collective progress.

He prayed that the next 25 years would bring deeper cohesion and greater achievements for Northern Nigeria.

The governor also commended President Tinubu for his “courageous and strategic” leadership in improving national security, advancing reforms, and reengineering the economy.

Speaking on his administration’s efforts in Kaduna State, Sani highlighted a governance approach built on inclusion, transparency, reconciliation, and citizen participation—an approach he said is rebuilding trust across communities.

He outlined the “Kaduna Peace Model,” which combines inclusive governance, community engagement, and infrastructural development.

According to him, peace is “engineered, not enforced,” and is strengthened through equitable project distribution, participatory budgeting, human capital development, and urban design that promotes coexistence.

Sani said intelligence-driven coordination, stronger support for security agencies, empowerment of local institutions, and technology deployment have helped restore calm in vulnerable communities.

Farmers, he added, have returned to their fields with improved support in mechanization, inputs, extension services, and market access.

He also highlighted progress in healthcare and education, noting upgrades to hospitals, revitalization of primary healthcare centres, strengthened maternal and child health programmes, and ongoing investments in school infrastructure, teacher training, and technical education.

According to him, infrastructure development is being implemented equitably across all 23 local government areas, with particular focus on balancing rural and urban growth.