US, Nigerian Governors Agree on Key Partnership Areas
The United States government and Nigeria’s 36 state governors, under the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), have reached an agreement on four key areas of partnership aimed at strengthening economic growth and governance.
In a communiqué issued in Abuja after a meeting between NGF Chairman and Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, and US Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills Jr, the forum highlighted a shift from a donor-recipient model to a mutually beneficial collaboration.
The four priority areas outlined for US engagement with Nigeria include:
Enhancing trade and improving the business environment to attract investment and boost economic growth.
Promoting transparency and accountability in governance to strengthen institutions.
Supporting subnational governments to drive development at the state level.
Establishing sustainable, Nigeria-led health programs for long-term impact and resilience.
Governors welcomed the approach and reaffirmed their commitment to working with the US government to advance these initiatives.
Additionally, the forum discussed the Nigeria For Women Project (NFWP) Scale-Up, which aims to empower women economically and expand from six states to a nationwide program. They also engaged with the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria (COSLON) on governance reforms, digitalizing state assemblies, and ensuring legislative perspectives are included in the ongoing constitutional review process.
