Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has called on political leaders in Northern Nigeria to prioritise human capital development and establish a common agenda to address the region's growing challenges.
The governor said Northern Nigeria was facing serious problems, including a high number of out-of-school children, inadequate vocational education and poor access to quality healthcare, particularly for women and children.
Sani made the call on Thursday when a delegation from the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation, led by former Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu, visited him at the Kaduna State Government House.
He commended the foundation for bringing Northern political leaders together to discuss human capital development, stressing the need for a coordinated approach to resolving the region's challenges.
The governor also described the foundation's forthcoming summit, themed "Good Governance, Industry and Creativity, as well as Sustainable Development," as timely.
According to Sani, Northern leaders must move beyond political competition at the national level and work together to tackle the region's developmental problems.
He expressed particular concern about maternal and child mortality, as well as the large number of children who are not attending school.
Citing UNICEF statistics, the governor said Nigeria had approximately 18 million out-of-school children, with about 70 per cent of them living in Northern Nigeria.
Sani disclosed that more than 500,000 children were roaming the streets of Kaduna State when he assumed office, adding that his administration had successfully returned approximately 360,000 of them to school.
He explained that the state's household-mapping initiative, introduced to identify out-of-school children, had attracted the attention of the Federal Ministry of Education as a potential model for addressing the problem nationwide.
Kaduna Invests in Healthcare and Vocational Education
On healthcare, Sani said his administration was prioritising primary healthcare services because of their importance to rural communities, low-income earners and vulnerable residents. He added that the state was also investing in secondary healthcare facilities.
The governor emphasised that access to healthcare was a fundamental right, particularly for disadvantaged members of society.
He also highlighted the state's efforts to promote vocational and skills-based education through the Kaduna State Institute of Vocational Training and Skills Development, which operates campuses in Soba, Rigachikun and Samaru Kataf.
According to him, the institute provides practical training in fields such as information and communication technology, mechatronics and renewable energy.
Sani said the institution had graduated more than 4,000 artisans and tradespeople, describing the initiative as an important step towards reducing unemployment and strengthening human capital development.
He added that his administration was working towards enrolling approximately 32,000 young people annually in the skills acquisition programme.
The governor explained that the programme was designed to equip participants with practical skills and recognised certificates that could improve their employment opportunities locally and internationally.
Foundation Plans Arewa Unity University
Earlier, Aliyu thanked the Kaduna State Government for allocating 50 hectares of land to the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation for the proposed establishment of Arewa Unity University.
The former governor also recalled that the late Kaduna State Governor, Patrick Yakowa, had previously allocated land near Murtala Mohammed Square to the foundation, where its office was subsequently built.
Aliyu announced that the foundation's summit would take place on October 28, 2026, with Governor Sani serving as the chief host and special guest of honour.
The summit is expected to provide a platform for Northern leaders and stakeholders to discuss governance, economic development, innovation and sustainable solutions to the region's challenges.
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