The Executive Governor of Yobe State, His Excellency Hon. (Dr.) Mai Mala Buni, CON, COMN, alongside his counterparts from Borno and Adamawa States, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum and Hon. Umaru Fintiri, has held a strategic meeting with officials of the World Bank Office in Nigeria to deepen collaboration aimed at improving the lives of citizens across the North-East region.
The high-level engagement focused on strengthening existing partnerships and enhancing the impact of World Bank–supported programmes in the areas of education, health, agriculture, livestock development, economic empowerment, and social protection.
Speaking at the meeting, the World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Mr. Mathew Verghis, commended the three governors for their strong commitment to the effective implementation of World Bank programmes in their respective states. He emphasized the need for sustained collaboration to consolidate and expand the achievements already recorded.
In their responses, the governors acknowledged the significant contributions of the World Bank to development efforts in the region. However, they collectively called for improved response time and more efficient procurement procedures, noting that delays often slow down project delivery and impact.
The governors further advocated for greater flexibility and community-driven approaches in programme design and implementation to reflect the peculiar needs of local communities, promote ownership, and fast-track execution.
Discussions during the meeting covered key World Bank–supported initiatives, including AGILE, Nigeria for Women Project, L-PRES, ACReSAL, and SOLID, among others. These programmes are designed to strengthen human capital development, boost agricultural productivity, enhance environmental resilience, support livelihoods, and promote durable solutions for displaced persons.
At the end of the deliberations, both the governors and World Bank representatives agreed to work more closely to strengthen partnership frameworks and address administrative bottlenecks hindering the timely implementation of projects.
The meeting reaffirmed Yobe State Government’s commitment, under the leadership of Governor Mai Mala Buni, to leveraging strategic partnerships with development institutions like the World Bank to drive inclusive growth, sustainable development, and improved welfare for the people of Yobe State and the wider North-East region.
