Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, alongside Rt. Hon. Ahmodu Umoru Fintiri of Adamawa and Hon. Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State, on Monday, paid a familiarization visit to the new World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Mr. Matthew Verghis, in Abuja.
The visit is aimed at reinforcing the existing partnership for development and stabilization in the North East.
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In his remark, Governor Zulum, welcomed the new Director, emphasizing the importance of the World Bank’s role in the post-insurgency recovery effort.
“We appreciate the World Bank’s continued support to the North East, particularly in the implementation of development and stabilization projects in the BAY states,” Governor Zulum stated.
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“However, to ensure smoother implementation and greater impact, we must strengthen coordination and address the challenges we are encountering on the ground.”
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The Governors of Yobe and Adamawa states, Hon. Mai Mala Buni and Rt. Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, commended the Bank’s existing interventions while outlining priority areas for future collaboration.
They stressed the need for deliberate intervention in key sectors to enhance the programs’ direct impact on communities recovering from over a decade of insurgency.
In his response, Mr. Verghis thanked the Governors for the courtesy visit and reaffirmed the World Bank’s commitment to its mission in the region.
“We are dedicated to working closely with state governments and project teams to deliver optimal results for the people of the North East,” Mr. Verghis said. “This partnership is crucial, and we are committed to ensuring our projects achieve their intended development objectives.”
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Governor Zulum was accompanied to the meeting by key project coordinators, including the Project Coordinator for the Nigeria for Women Program, Aishatu Musa Sheikh; Focal Person for the Sustainable Power Irrigation for Nigeria (SPIN) project, Dr. Aliyu Umar Bashir and Hajiya Maryam Shehu.