Former military president, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), has called on Northern leaders to revive and uphold the vision of the late General Hassan Usman-Katsina, which centred on peace, unity and self-reliance.
Babangida made the appeal at the second edition of the Hassan Usman-Katsina Memorial Conference organised by the New Vision Development Initiative (NEVDI) in Kaduna. He was represented by the former Military Administrator of Niger State, retired Colonel Lawal Gwadabe.
He noted that at a time when Nigeria is grappling with deepening socio-economic challenges, reflecting on the values and sacrifices of leaders like Gen. Usman-Katsina had become even more critical. According to him, the late General’s philosophy and lifelong dedication to the progress of the North should inspire today’s leaders to confront the region’s persistent problems with renewed commitment.
As a former Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Usman-Katsina played a pivotal role in safeguarding Nigeria’s unity. After retirement, he dedicated himself to championing the rights of the underprivileged, particularly children trapped in the Almajiri system.
“He was passionate about the unity of our country because together we can be very strong and a very progressive nation; divided, we will fail,” Babangida said through his representative. “His mantra was always to observe good faith and cultivate peace with all, so that our nation can grow in peace, unity and harmony.”
Delivering a paper on Nigerian Socio-Economic and Security Challenges: Implications for Northern States, Prof. Abubakar Mohammed stressed that a stable and prosperous North is vital to Nigeria’s overall development. He noted that if the region’s per capita income and human development levels matched those of the South, Nigeria’s GDP could rise by 2–3 per cent while national poverty could fall by more than 20 percentage points.
Mohammed added that Nigeria’s chances of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 depend heavily on progress in the North, where states like Sokoto and Bauchi currently rank lowest on most SDG indicators. He urged for urgent, evidence-based strategies and sustained leadership commitment to address the region’s economic and security challenges.
Also speaking, Prof. Ango Abdullahi praised the virtues of the late General and encouraged Northern leaders to emulate his integrity, courage and dedication to the welfare and security of the region.
As Chairman of the NEVDI Board of Trustees, Lawal Gwadabe expressed gratitude to the dignitaries who attended the memorial conference. He encouraged Northern leaders to move beyond poverty and stagnation by embracing innovation, unity and selfless leadership. He also announced plans to make the memorial lecture a biannual event to further promote justice, unity and national development.
