In a major step toward operationalising President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the Federal Government on Monday inaugurated the Core Working Group (CWG) on Regional Development.
The move underscores the administration’s commitment to promoting balanced growth and addressing long-standing regional disparities across the country.
The CWG is tasked with providing technical leadership, strategic alignment, and operational oversight for the regional development initiative, ensuring a coordinated and harmonised implementation across all states and regions.
Minister of the Federal Ministry of Regional Development (FMRD), Mr. Abubakar Momoh, commended the president for prioritising inclusive national development.
Represented by Minister of State, Uba Ahmadu, Momoh emphasised that development commissions serve as strategic instruments to bridge socio-economic and security gaps in the country.
“The CWG must adopt a region-by-region approach that reflects local realities, priorities, and comparative advantages.
”Policies should align with national development plans and global best practices to ensure continuity beyond political cycles,” Momoh said.
Dr. Mariam Masha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Regional Development, described the CWG’s inauguration as a critical transition from strategy to execution.
She stressed that the group’s work must ensure development is both nationally coordinated and regionally grounded, benefiting all Nigerians.
“The success of the Renewed Hope Agenda depends on linking regional strategies to grassroots development, ensuring growth reaches every ward and community,” Masha said.
She highlighted four strategic pillars guiding the initiative: Productive Economy, Social Development, Infrastructure and Connectivity, and Peace and Security.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Mary Ogbe, said that regional development was essential to reducing disparities, fostering social cohesion, and unlocking economic opportunities nationwide.
She explained that a two-day training for CWG members would promote a results-based approach, emphasising the protection and fulfillment of citizen rights, particularly for marginalized and underserved communities.
International partners also pledged support for the initiative. UNICEF Country Representative, Ms. Wafaa Abdelatef, represented by Dr. Mamidar PruFON, described the CWG’s formation as a promise to Nigeria’s children for a fair, resilient, and opportunity-rich future.
She affirmed UNICEF’s commitment to providing technical assistance, capacity building, and advocacy to ensure that children’s rights, gender equality, disability inclusion, and youth participation are central to all regional development strategies.
Similarly, United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Mr. Mohammed Fall, represented by UN Consultant Maryam Uwais, reminded the CWG that development is fundamentally about people.
He reaffirmed UN support in line with the Sustainable Development Goals, offering technical guidance, knowledge sharing, and capacity-building initiatives to ensure inclusive growth.
The inauguration marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s regional development agenda, signaling a move from policy formulation to actionable implementation with measurable impact across all regions.
