Sustainable Grassroots Development Conference 2025: A New Dawn for Nigeria’s Local Governments

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In a landmark event redefining grassroots development, ALGON National President Hon. Engr. Bello Lawal, ably represented by Chief Odunayo Ategbero, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, ALGON, led representatives of all 774 Local Governments to the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The national conference, organized by ALGON in collaboration with Aspitah Global Resources Ltd, themed “Driving Sustainable Development Through LGAs,” highlighted the importance of strengthening rural governance capacity. Discussions focused on strategies for sustainable development, which are crucial for Nigeria’s growth.

In his address, the Honourable Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, used the occasion to unveil several milestones achieved by the Ministry and highlighted the importance of building partnerships with the Association to develop the Sustainable Energy Access Project (SEAP), a key initiative of the Ministry. Chief Nnaji pointed out that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda has provided tremendous opportunities for the development of Nigeria’s energy sector and called for maximum support.

Other dignitaries presented various development initiatives that align with ALGON’s vision of capacitating sub-national governments. The speakers included Prof. Banji Oyeyinka, Senior Special Adviser to the President of African Development Bank (AfDB) Dr. Akinwunmi Adeshina Mr. Bryan Amonu, Data Analytics; Mr. Liu Song Zheng Brian, CEO of CKK Electric Power Engineering Company; Ms. Latifah Aspitah Isah, CEO of Aspitah Global Resources; General Timothy Olugboyega Olowomeye (rtd); Mr. Richardson Ojeka; Dr. Fasua Tope Kolade; Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi, Director-General of the Energy Commission; and Mrs. Uju Rochas Anwukah, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Health Nutrition, among many other top-level resource persons.

It is worth recalling that under Hon. Lawal’s leadership, ALGON has continued to demonstrate its capacity to address challenges facing Local Governments. The conference explored decentralization, collaboration with investors, and empowerment through Small Medium Enterprise Business, as well as agriculture, energy transition, and security. The gathering included several members of the Association, such as ALGON State Chairmen from Taraba, Hon. Jauro Hassan; Engr. Ikenna Adikibe from Imo; Hon. Shehu Jega, ALGON Technical Adviser; Hon. Samuel Akala, former Chairman of Karu LGA; Hon. Dr. Fasua Gbenga from Ondo; Hon. Samila Husani Moniki from Zamfara; Hon. Abubakar Abdullahi from Kwara.

Key focus areas of the conference included Security and Community Safety, Rural Community Empowerment through Value Chain Development, Climate Smart Agriculture, Renewable Energy, Industrial Transformation, and Localizing the Sustainable Development Goals. These initiatives align with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

In his welcome address, Hon. Lawal thanked President Tinubu for hosting the conference, emphasizing its potential to benefit communities through engagement and mobilization. He noted the conference’s timeliness, given the Autonomy Judgment of July 11, 2024. Aspitah Global Resources Limited’s Ms. Latifah Isah thanked ALGON for making the event a national necessity. This conference marks a significant step towards strengthening rural governance and promoting sustainable development in Nigeria’s local governments.

The event featured paper presentations on local government departments, plenary sessions, question-and-answer segments. A communiqué is being awaited as soon as possible. Some ALGON Directors were present, including the Acting Director-General, Barr. Mrs. Evan Enekwe, who appreciated the attendees alongside Nuhu Ozigi, Director of Finance and Administration, as well as other top-level officers. The event concluded with excitement.

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