As reported by Vanguard, Alhaji Dalhatu Attahiru Bafarawa, who once served as the Governor of Sokoto State, has introduced a new organisation that aims to facilitate the empowerment of young people to assume leadership positions and solve the critical issues that are now being faced in northern Nigeria.
Bafarawa made the announcement while speaking to the BBC Hausa Service. The Northern Star Empowerment Initiative is a non-political organisation that aims to unite communities and address the issues that are prevalent in the region. These issues include insecurity, unemployment, poverty, food scarcity, and the increasing number of children who are not attending school.
Bafarawa provided further clarification about the initiative’s primary objective by noting, “It is an independent organisation that has no intention of engaging in politics or joining political parties.” The North’s rights are being sought for by it.
He said, “By God, I don’t want to be elected, and I don’t want any government position for the rest of my life.” The former governor emphasised that he is not pursuing any political aspirations or responsibilities in the government. He further explained that he does not want to be elected. In order to bring about peace, it is my hope that young people will be granted the rights that are rightfully theirs.
Concern was voiced by Bafarawa on the marginalisation of the region’s young, despite the fact that they constitute a substantial population. In order to achieve peace that is long-lasting, he emphasised the need of giving young people more agency. “The mission of this organisation is to provide guidance to young people so that they can assume leadership roles, as it is their rights that we are fighting for.” He added that if we desire peace, we need to guide our younger generation.
He gave his word that the program would provide assistance to any young person who was a part of it and was looking for a leadership position. Bafarawa also disclosed that the campaign has received backing from religious leaders in both the Christian community and the Muslim community.
The previous governor brought attention to the effect that religious and ethnic divides have had on the Northern region, and he called for togetherness in order to promote development. “If religion is not used, the North will never break apart,” he added, pushing the area to find inventive solutions to the difficulties it faces. “The North will also never break apart.”