From Sani Gazas Chinade, Damaturu
Governors Mai Mala Buni of Yobe, Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno and Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa met with senior officials of the World Bank on Thursday to deepen collaboration on key development programmes across the North-East.
The meeting, held with representatives of the World Bank office in Nigeria, focused on accelerating interventions in education, health, agriculture, livestock development, and women’s economic empowerment.
In a statement issued today by Mamman Mohammed, Director-General, Press and Media Affairs to Governor Buni, the World Bank Country Director, Mathew Verghis, commended the governors for their “strong commitment to programme implementation,” noting that progress recorded across the region reflected their dedication.
Verghis urged continued partnership, stressing that improving delivery efficiency would help consolidate gains already made.
The governors, however, called for faster response timelines and simplified procurement processes in World Bank projects, arguing that delays often slow down the impact of interventions at community level.
They also recommended that programmes be made more flexible and community-driven to suit local realities and ensure broader ownership.
According to the statement, discussions centred on major initiatives such as AGILE, Nigeria for Women Project, L-PRES, ACReSAL and SOLID — programmes designed to strengthen education systems, expand agricultural production, promote livelihood opportunities, and boost resilience in climate-affected communities.
Both sides agreed to work closely to resolve administrative bottlenecks that have hindered the speedy implementation of some interventions.
The meeting ended with commitments to streamline coordination and enhance the efficiency of development efforts across the three states.