In a major gathering aimed at tackling regional economic challenges, the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin, officially represented the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima at the High-Level North-West Policy Dialogue on Wednesday, June 10, 2026.
The prominent event, held at the Bristol Palace Hotel in Kano, brought together a formidable assembly of leaders, including North-West state governors, federal ministers, traditional rulers, and captains of industry. High-profile international development partners including representatives from the European Union, UNICEF, the International Labour Organization (ILO), and the World Bank were also in attendance to confront the region’s pressing socioeconomic hurdles.
Delivering the Vice President’s keynote address, titled “The Arithmetic of Human Dignity,” Senator Jibrin emphasized the urgent need to address poverty through structural reform rather than temporary fixes. The dialogue, centered on the theme “Reducing Multidimensional Poverty through Innovative Financing and a Scaled Social Protection System,” served as a critical platform to align regional strategies with the federal government’s developmental goals.
We are gathered to confront one urgent question: how to lift millions from the prison of want, protect the vulnerable before tragedy knocks, and translate the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, into daily reality for the child in the village, the mother in the clinic, the farmer in the field, the trader in the market, and the displaced family waiting for the dignity of return.
Senator Barau Jibrin.
This dialogue could not have come at a more consequential moment. Poverty is no longer defined only by the absence of income. It is the child who cannot read at ten, the mother who approaches childbirth with fear, the household unsure of tomorrow’s food, and the young mind outside the classroom while the world races towards artificial intelligence, biotechnology, advanced manufacturing, and a knowledge economy that will not wait for those who hesitate.
While acknowledging the North-West as a “demographic and economic powerhouse” rich in agricultural promise, commercial genius, and youthful energy, the address delivered by Senator Jibrin did not shy away from the grave realities facing the region.
| Key Regional Challenges Highlighted |
| Over 8 million out-of-school children |
| Critical rates of maternal and under-five mortality |
| Child stunting affecting more than half of the children in specific communities |
| Inherited deprivations across health, education, and nutrition |
On behalf of the presidency, Barau reaffirmed the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to ensuring that the Nigerian state works equitably for both the powerful and the powerless.
The address concluded with a strong call to action for stakeholders to transition from fragmented, scattered interventions to sustainable, durable social protection systems. The administration emphasized that building a credible social register, establishing transparent payment systems, and securing innovative financing models are vital steps to ensure the poorest citizens are protected against economic, climate, and market shocks regardless of political cycles.
