By Khadijah Aliyu
The Kano State Government has sought a strategic partnership with the North-West Development Commission, NWDC, to accelerate rural and community development across the state.
The Commissioner for Rural and Community Development, Dr. Abdulqadir Abdussalam, made the request during a working visit to the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the commission, Professor Shehu Abdullahi Ma’aji, at its headquarters in Kano.
During the visit, Dr. Abdussalam presented the ministry’s Integrated Sustainability Framework for Rural and Community Development, designed to address infrastructure deficits and improve living conditions in underserved communities.
He explained that the framework aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the National Development Plan and Kano State’s Economic Blueprint, with emphasis on education, healthcare, water supply, sanitation, agriculture and rural infrastructure.
The commissioner disclosed that the ministry had conducted a year-long assessment across the state’s 44 local government areas and nearly 400 wards to identify community needs and longstanding infrastructure gaps.
He said the exercise involved traditional institutions, residents, youth associations and other stakeholders, adding that the ministry was ready to share relevant data, personnel and community structures with the commission to ensure effective implementation of development projects.
Responding, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the NWDC, Professor Shehu Abdullahi Ma’aji, commended the ministry for its data-driven approach and assured the delegation of the commission’s readiness to collaborate with the state government.
Professor Ma’aji said the commission was established to promote socioeconomic development and address poverty, insecurity and infrastructure deficits across the seven North-West states of Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara.
He explained that rural development remained central to the commission’s mandate, noting that the ministry’s framework aligned with its strategic priorities for sustainable and equitable development across the region.
The NWDC chief executive also directed his technical team to engage with the ministry to harmonise the grassroots needs assessment data with the commission’s project pipeline and develop a joint action plan for implementation.
Editing by Khadija Kubau
