Why We’re Holding Investment, Industrialisation Summit – Northern Elders

Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has announced the maiden variation of the Northern Nigeria Investment and Industrialisation Summit, slated for September 29–30, 2025.

The acme is designed to reposition Northern Nigeria arsenic a hub of economical transformation, innovation and sustainable development.

At an planetary property league held astatine the Hawthorn Suites Hotel successful Abuja, the spokesperson for the NEF, Professor Abubakar Jidere, described the acme arsenic a “deliberate patriotic agenda” aimed astatine revitalising the region’s system and unlocking its vast, untapped potential.

“This acme is not conscionable different conference,” Jidere declared. “It is an economical telephone to action—an unveiling of a caller imaginativeness for Northern Nigeria. It is simply a strategy to alteration paradox into prosperity.”

Responding to questions astir the timing and the NEF’s role, Jidere said the existent infinitesimal presents an unprecedented accidental for Northern Nigeria to reset its economical trajectory.

“The acme is not political,” helium said. “It is astir economical opportunities, partnerships, and prosperity. The Northern Elders Forum has chosen this infinitesimal to assistance signifier a aboriginal worthy of our people.”

Recalling the region’s past economical prominence—from the days of groundnut pyramids to booming commercialized successful cotton, hides, and coagulated minerals—Jidere acknowledged that portion Northern Nigeria erstwhile powered the nation’s economy, issues similar insecurity and underinvestment had slowed its momentum.

“Today,” helium noted, “we statesman a caller chapter. We are not conscionable looking backmost successful nostalgia. We are looking guardant with purpose.”

The summit, developed implicit 18 months successful collaboration with the 19 Northern States and the New Nigeria Development Company (NNDC), volition absorption connected 5 cardinal pillars: Land  and Agriculture – Harnessing immense arable onshore to provender the continent; Solid Minerals – Tapping into implicit 500 identified locations affluent successful resources; Human Resources – Leveraging a large, youthful population; Infrastructure – Integrating roads, railways, energy, and dams for growth; and Industry – Scaling enterprises to go determination and planetary hubs.

These pillars volition beryllium supported by 3 captious enablers: education, healthcare and technology, laying the groundwork for sustainable and inclusive development.

Contrary to perceptions of being landlocked, Northern Nigeria is “land-linked,” the NEF emphasised – bordering Niger, Chad, Cameroon, Benin, Mali, and the Central African Republic. With a colonisation of 160 million, the portion is poised to go a strategical economical gateway for West and Central Africa.

“This colonisation is not a load – it is an opportunity,” Jidere said.

While rooted successful Northern Nigeria, the summit’s connection is 1 of nationalist and continental significance.

“This acme is for Nigeria. It is for Africa. It is for each planetary partners who judge successful shared prosperity,” Jidere declared. “When Northern Nigeria rises, Nigeria rises. And erstwhile Nigeria rises, Africa rises,” helium added.