Uba Sani to ACF: Northern elites must unite to solve region’s challenges

Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has said the North has enough human resources to tackle its development challenges if its elites work together and take decisive action.

Speaking when the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) leadership paid him a courtesy visit, the governor noted that the region must move beyond “endless complaints” about poverty, education gaps, and healthcare deficits.

“We have many successful Northern professionals across business, academia, medicine, and entrepreneurship.

‘The missing link is bringing everyone together,” he said, urging the ACF to mobilise expertise for regional development.

Sani welcomed the forum’s plan to create a Central Endowment Fund and advised that it focus on skills acquisition to make young people self-reliant. He also raised concerns over the high rate of financial exclusion in the North.

According to him, over 2.1 million poor residents were added to the financial system within his first year in office through an Executive Order on financial inclusion.

The governor lamented the limited presence of bank branches in the region, revealing that more than 60% of northern local governments have none.

“Some southern states with far smaller populations have more bank branches than Kano State, which has 44 LGAs,” he said.

Sani praised the ACF for renewing synergy with northern leaders and building bridges with groups like Afenifere and Ohaneze Ndigbo.

Earlier, ACF BoT Chairman, Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu, briefed the governor on plans for the organisation’s 25th Anniversary holding November 20–22 in Kaduna.

He said Vice President Kashim Shettima and ministers from the North are expected, with Alhaji Aliko Dangote as Guest Speaker.