By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja
President Muhammadu Buhari, the National Security Adviser, Major-General Mohammed Babagana Monguno, Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba and the Director General of the Department of States Services, DSS are among top personalities are expected at the Nigeria Governors’ Forum’s (NGF) 3rd Governors’ induction from Monday May 15 to May 19th, 2023.
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Mr Jean Pierre Elong Mbassi, the Secretary General of United Cities and Local Governments of Africa and President William Ruto of Kenya are also scheduled to grace the induction.
This was confirmed in a statement issued in Abuja by the Director, Media and Public Affairs of the NGF, Abdulrazaque Barkindo.
Similarly, Dr Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, Director General of the World Trade Organization, Amina Jane Mohammed, Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations and Dr Akinwumi Adeshina of the African Development Bank are expected to bring their experiences to bear at the occasion.
The current Mayor of New York City, Eric Adams and two former American Governors, Terry McAuliffe of the State of Virginia and O’Malley Martin Joseph of Maryland are gracing the occasion.
Also expected to speak at the NGF induction is Professor Peter Anyang Nyongo, Governor of the Kisumu County in Kenya who transformed Kenya’s hospital fund to a national health insurance fund, reduced poverty and brought Kisumu County to compete in poverty reduction, education and infrastructure with modern cities around the globe.
According to the statement, “The Nigeria Governors’ Forum NGF is hosting its 3rd Governors’ induction from Monday May 15 to May 19th, 2023.
“The induction program for incoming and returning Governors is the NGFs flagship program where the incoming Governors are supported with special tools to usher them into office in a seamless manner and to assist them move away from campaigns to governance.
“Traditionally, the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigeria Armed Forces is invited to give the Keynote address to the gathering of Governors including those that are already out of office.
“The occasion accords the governors an opportunity to share experiences and compare notes to further strengthen service delivery to the Nigerian people at the subnational level.
“This year, 2023, the program is holding at the Banquet Hall of the Aso Rock Villa in Abuja, with President Muhammadu Buhari as the Special Guest of Honor. It commences at 8 in the morning.
“Speakers are invited from all over the world from among heads of governments, members of the diplomatic corps, captains of industry and other categories of guests who have accomplished and distinguished history of service to their people to inspire the Governors to hit the ground running”, it said
Continuing, the statement said, “There will also be rich conversations on managing expectations and powering the bureaucracy to accomplish your agenda and balancing political appointees versus the civil service, among many other critical governance toolkits.
“The same Induction program will also deal with how to seamlessly ease the outgoing governors to a life after office. The last two days of the week will be occupied by activities of the First Ladies”, it said.
