Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has declared that the establishment of the North-Central by President Bola Tinubu will help to bridge the infrastructural gap among the various regions of the country.
SGF Akume said the Federal Government remains commited to deepening collaboration and support to the development goals of the North Central Development Commission (NCDC).
The SGF stated this in a message delivered by the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Professor Joseph Utsev at a stakeholders’ reception dinner held in honour of the Chairman, Governing Board of the NCDC, Barrister Cosmas Akighir.
The event, organized by the ‘Jemgbagh Active and Retired Directors Association (JARDA) drew traditional rulers, community leaders, commissioners, and representatives from across the North-Central states.
According to SGF Akume, President Tinubu is also desirous to strengthening national cohesion and improving the welfare of citizens in all geopolitical zones.
SGF Amume therefore expressed appreciation to the region’s elders, religious leaders and community heads for their continuous support, describing unity of purpose as central to the Commission’s success.
The SGF representative reminded guests that the Alume regards the North-Central as home and remains personally invested in its progress.
He also assured stakeholders that SGF Akume would continue to champion initiatives that promote peace, security and inclusive development.
He urged commissioners and board members of the NCDC to justify the confidence reposed in them by delivering on their mandate, while calling on traditional and religious leaders to support the Commission’s programmes at the grassroots.
The SGF prayed for unity, guidance and wisdom for all stakeholders, expressing confidence that the Commission would uplift the region and strengthen national development.
Speaking at the event, Managing Director of the NCDC, Cyril Yiltsen Tsenyil, who led other board and management members to celebrate Barrister Akighir, described him as a humble, unifying and visionary leader whose character reflects the values of his community.
The MD said he was “deeply fulfilled” to honour a chairman who, in just six months, had demonstrated integrity, commitment and extraordinary support for the Commission’s mandate.
“For months, many of us wondered where this man drew his humility and dedication from. Today, being here among his people, we now understand the source of his strength and values,” he said.
Tsenyil commended President Tinubu for appointing Barrister Akighir as pioneer chairman of the Commission, noting that the appointment had proven to be “a round peg in a round hole.”
He also lauded Senator Akume’s leadership and guidance, which he said continue to inspire confidence within the Commission.
He assured that the board and management would give Akighir full cooperation to enable him succeed, describing the chairman as “a symbol of unity and development.”
“In Chairman Akighir, we have seen genuine qualities of leadership, humility, inclusiveness and passion for the development of the North-Central region,” he stated.
In a keynote address, Professor Sebastine Hon, represented by Professor Peter Akper, stressed that unity remains a critical ingredient for the socio-economic advancement of the North-Central region.
Prodessor Hon described the region as richly endowed but structurally disadvantaged, noting that its diversity requires intentional cohesion across ethnic, cultural and religious lines.
Quoting Psalm 133, he highlighted the blessings that flow from unity and echoed global thinkers who affirm that “even the weak become strong when united.”
Despite producing more Heads of State than any other region, he noted, the North-Central remains comparatively weak in socio-economic influence, making unity “a non-negotiable imperative.”
On the Commission’s mandate, he said the NCDC was designed to fast-track development by cutting through bureaucratic bottlenecks, just like its counterparts in other geopolitical zones.
He urged the governing board to ensure equitable distribution of development projects across the six states and the FCT.
The Board Chairman, Barrister Akighir, said the North-Central is not lacking in knowledge, human resources or leadership capacity but requires deeper collaboration to translate these strengths into measurable development outcomes.
“We are not poor in knowledge, we are not poor in human resources, and we are not poor in management and leadership,” he said. “What we need is collaboration.”
He pledged that the Commission would prioritise partnerships and joint initiatives that harness the region’s human capital and local insights to address its developmental challenges.
Akighir reaffirmed the Board’s readiness to work with state governments, traditional institutions, development partners and civil society to accelerate growth and stability across the region.
Welcoming guests earlier, the Chief Host, Sir Frank Mku, described the establishment of the NCDC as a new chapter in the quest for inclusive development in the North-Central.
Mku said the signing of the NCDC Act in February 2025 by President Tinubu marked a decisive step toward addressing the region’s unique development needs and aligning it with the President’s broader economic agenda.
He said the gathering was not only to celebrate Akighir’s appointment but also to express appreciation to the President “for finding him and many of our illustrious sons worthy of national service.”
Mku described the chairman as a seasoned legal practitioner, hardworking team player and committed professional, expressing confidence that he would provide purposeful leadership that deepens unity, cooperation and development across the North-Central zone.
