From Abdullahi Shugaba, in Katsina
Ten (10) State Governors from the Northwest and North Central Geo- Political Regions of Nigeria have been invited to a Symposium on Peace and Security in US.
Ibrahim Muhammad Kaulaha, Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to Governor Umaru Dikko Radda of Katsina State said in a statement that the exclusive symposium for the Governors by the Africa Centre at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) is to address the lingering security challenges in the two geo-political regions of Nigeria.
According to Kaulaha, the meeting is scheduled to take place between April 23 to 25, 2024, in Washington, DC, and will bring state governors, U.S. government officials, Congressional staff, NGOs, supporting partners and relevant stakeholders to a round table.
He disclosed that the 10 governors invited for the summit are Malam Dikko Umaru Radda of Katsina State, Uba Sani, Kaduna, Abba Kabir Yusuf Kano, Nasir Idris of Kebbi, Umar Namadi of Jigawa,
Ahmad Aliyu of Sokoto, and Dauda Lawal of Zamfara state.
Those from the North Central Geo- Political Zone of Nigeria are Rev. Father. Hyacinth Alia of Benue State, Mohammed Bago of Niger, and Barrister Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State.
According to the release, in view of the crucial role of state governors in mitigating security threats and fostering peace in their states, the symposium is aimed to enhance their capacity in conflict prevention and peace building through dialogue.
The Conference is also aimed to empower governors to address the underlying causes of instability and strengthen Peace building initiatives State and local government levels.
During the symposium, the governors and their counterparts will engage in panel discussions focusing on the drivers of insecurity and opportunities for stabilization.
The seminar is aimed to deepen participants’ understanding of the complex security landscape, identify strategies for addressing security challenges, and explore opportunities for sustainable peace and development in their zones.
A special panel discussion will be facilitated by Tom Sheehy, a Distinguished Fellow from the United States to focus on Strengthening Commercial Business and Two-Way Trade Between Nigeria and the United States.
The objective is to explore collaborative efforts among governors, Nigerian civic groups, private businesses, and the international community to attract investors to invest to generate employment that would foster economic development in the country.
