The North Central Development Commission (NCDC) is set to unveil a 20-year economic, infrastructure and social development blueprint for the North Central region at a two-day summit in Abuja, with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima among the high-profile figures expected at the event.
Scheduled for September 14 and 15, 2026, the summit is expected to bring together political leaders, governors, traditional rulers, private sector operators, development partners, academics, youth and women groups, as well as persons with disabilities, to develop a common framework for the region’s long-term development.
The gathering, themed “The Great Leap Forward: A 20-Years Economic, Infrastructural and Social Development Plan for the North Central Region,” is expected to provide a platform for stakeholders to identify the region’s major challenges, agree on priorities and establish practical strategies that can drive development beyond individual government administrations.
Former Heads of State Generals Yakubu Gowon, Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar are also expected to attend as Fathers of the Day, while former Military Governor of Kano and Kwara States, Air Vice Marshal Mohammed Ndatsu Umaru (rtd.), will chair the occasion. Nasarawa Governor Abdullahi Sule, Chairman of the North Central Governors’ Forum, will serve as Chief Host alongside other governors in the zone and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
NCDC Chairman, Barrister Cosmas Akighir, said the summit would seek to produce a shared vision and actionable framework for the sustainable development of the geopolitical zone. The Commission’s Managing Director/CEO, Dr. Cyril Yiltsen Tsenyil, said the initiative would also align regional priorities with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
With Professor Iorwuese Hagher billed to deliver the keynote address, the Commission said it was working with its technical partner, Phillips Consulting, to ensure the summit produces concrete outcomes. It stressed that the transformation of the North Central would require sustained cooperation among governments, businesses, communities and development partners.
