‘We Can’t Develop North-West Without Rural Communities’ — NWDC
The North-West Development Commission (NWDC) has said the development of rural communities remains crucial to addressing poverty, insecurity and infrastructure deficits across the region.
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the commission, Prof. Shehu Abdullahi Ma’aji, stated this when he received Kano State Commissioner for Rural and Community Development, Dr Abdulqadir Abdussalam, at the commission’s headquarters in Kano.
“Rural development is at the heart of the NWDC mandate. We cannot develop the North-West without developing our rural communities,” Ma’aji said.
The Kano State Government, during the meeting, sought collaboration with the commission to address infrastructure and development gaps in underserved communities across the state’s 44 local government areas.
A statement by the NWDC Director of Press and Public Relations, Abdulrashid Y. Safana, said Abdussalam presented the state ministry’s Integrated Sustainability Framework for Rural and Community Development to the commission.
According to the commissioner, the framework was developed following a year-long grassroots needs assessment covering the 44 LGAs and nearly 400 wards in Kano.
He said traditional institutions, youth associations, rural residents and other stakeholders were consulted to identify infrastructure and development challenges facing communities.
Abdussalam said the framework focuses on areas including primary healthcare, education, clean water and sanitation, agriculture and rural infrastructure.
He added that the ministry was prepared to share its data, personnel and community structures with the NWDC to help identify communities requiring urgent intervention.
Responding, Ma’aji said the commission would work with the ministry to harmonise the needs assessment with its project plans.
He said the commission’s technical team would engage officials of the ministry to develop a joint action plan for possible implementation.
The NWDC is mandated to promote socio-economic development across Kano, Jigawa, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara states.