Yobe Economic Summit Group(YESG)

  INTRODUCTORY REMARKS by Ibrahim Abdurrahman, FNITR, MNI (Galadiman Potiskum) Head of Service, Yobe State

 Yobe State was created on the 27th August 1991 out of the old Borno State. Since then, developmental efforts were made by successive administrations but yet the poverty level of the state is far below the national average. The summit is therefore, the vision of His Excellency, Senator Mamman B. Ali purposely organised to stimulate policy issues towards drawing up a new policy direction for the state socio-economic transformation. The papers presented at the summit vividly explained the current level of development of the state in all sectors: Education system; health care delivery; potable water supply; agricultural services; road development; solid mineral development; as well as poverty reduction level. This work is therefore an attempt by bureaucrats to distil the policy issues raised in all the papers and reduce to policy implementation strategies. The government sincerely appreciated the enormous efforts of the individuals summit groups for being patriotic Yobe indigenes. It is expected that the state government will hold another summit in future with a view to knowing how far we have gone in the implementations which will allow review of any shortcoming(s) committed in the course of the implementation. Finally, it is our fervent prayer that with Allah’s divine guidance and the support from the general public, the state government will have the political will, commitment and wisdom to implement the issues raised within the first and second terms of this administration.

  LIST OF MEMBERS OF THE SUMMIT GROUP

 TEAM 1
 Good Governance and Social Re-orientation Team

1.Mohammed Ali Sheriff ED,
   NNDC (Chairman Summit Group)
2.Imam Ahmed Talba
  National Electricity Regulatory Agency
3.Yusuf Madaki
  National Orientation Agency
4.Hajia Jummai Ibrahim Mai Sule
  National Board for Colleges of Education
5.Prof. Yakuba Muktar
  FCT


 TEAM 2
 Economic and Finance Team

6.Mohammed Shuaibu Gulani
   MD, Amana Pension Fund Administrators
7.Ballama Manu
  Consultant, Alpine Investments Limited
8.Dr. Yerima Lawan Ngama
  ED. Diamond Bank Plc (Secretary Summit Group)
9.Yaro Alhaji Jinjiri
  Consultant & Director Amana PFA
10.Dr. Asheikh Maidugu
     DMO

 TEAM 3
 Agriculture Team

11.Dr. Abubakar Garba Iliya
     MD, Chad Basin Development Authority
12.Dr. Yunusa Musa Dada
     University of Maiduguri
13.Dr. Audu K. Grema
    DFID
14.Saleh Usman
    Nigeria Agric. Coop. and Rural Devt. Bank
15.Dr. Ibrahim Mejo
    Vet. Medicine, University of Maiduguri
16.Baba Bila
    Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria
17.Engr. Adam Y. Arka
     University of Maiduguri 18 Shuaibu Bala Adamu University of Maiduguri

 TEAM 4
 Health Team

19.Dr. Shehu Sule Director ,
    Federal Ministry of Health
20.Dr. Yahaya Ahmed
    WHO
21.Dr. Ahmed Babagana
    National ENT Hospital, Kaduna
22.Dr. Muhammad Isa Adamu
    WHO Representative, Yobe State
23.Dr. Ahmed Abdulwahab
     DFID, PRRINN, Gusau
24.Yusuf Yusufari
     DFID PRRINN Dutse

 TEAM 5
 Education Team

25.Saleh Sintalma Abubakar
    Agric. Research and Extention Serv. ABU Zaria
26.Dr. Kole Shettima Machina
     McCarter Foundation
27.Dr.Abdulkadir Shettima
     Provost, Federal College of Education, Potiskum
28.Prof. Musa
     University of Maiduguri

 TEAM 6
 Commerce and Industry Team

30.Ibrahim Babagana
    BPE
31.Usman Zarma Gorgoram
   Afribank Plc
32.Ibrahim Bomai
     Auditor General
33.Mohammed Maina Gimba
     MD, NERFUND

 TEAM 7
 Infrastructure Team

34.Engr. Zaji Bunu
     Water Resource Consultant
35.Engr. Yerima Bulama
     Federal Ministry of Works
36.Engr. Ahmed Kaitav
    PHCN
37.Engr. Bala Dan Shehu
    Fed Ministry of Transportation
38.Engr. Ali Goni
     Unity Bank Plc
39.Engr. Mohammed Abubakar
     Federal Ministry of Water Resources

 TEAM 8
 Mineral Resources Team

40.Dr. Nuru Yakubu
    ES, National Board for Technical Education
41.Dr. Abdullahi Gimba
    Ashaka Cement Company
42.Amate Mohammed
     Ministry of Solid Minerals
43.Suleiman Gimba
     Totalfinaelf

 TEAM 9
 Environment Team

44.Prof. Mala Daura
    Acting VC University of Maiduguri
45.Mohammed Adam Buni
    Federal Ministry of Agriculture
46.Mohammed Musa Hayatudeen
     Image Environmental Services
47.Dr. Zannah Muhammad
     NEMA

 OPENING SPEECH by Mohammed Ali Sheriff ,The Chairman Summit Group

 PROTOCOL
 Your Excellency, we are all aware that in the last twelve years, this country has Been strategising to reposition itself to attain faster economic growth. These efforts include the following:
 • Vision 2010
 • Vision 20-2020 (NEEDS, NEEDS2, SEEDS and FSS 2020)
 • Most states have also responded to these initiatives and have held summits and produced economic and social development blueprints to guide their development. These include: Katsina, Kano, Osun, Imo, etc
 • The idea of the formation of the Yobe State Economic and Social Development Summit Group was initiated by some members. They felt it is obligatory for Yobe indigenes who have distinguished themselves in areas of their endeavour, and who are not in the employment of Yobe State Government, to come together and contribute towards developing a blueprint for the economic and social development of the state. This is in line with the call of His Excellency, Senator Mamman Bello Ali, the Executive Governor of Yobe State, during his inaugural speech, where he called on all citizens of Yobe state to join hands with him in developing our dear state.
 • The main purpose of the Summit Group is to, as soon as possible, convene an economic and social development summit in Damaturu. Before the Summit, however, the Summit Group is expected to prepare presentations to be delivered during the summit. The presentations would cover the current state of affairs in various economic and social sectors; the short (up to 2010), medium (2010 to 2014) and long (2014 to 2020) objectives; and then present realistic short and medium term strategies that will lead to the achievement of these objectives.
 • The Summit Group will be an independent body with perpetual life. The summit to be held will be the first one and further summits will be held every two years to appraise the implementation of the strategies agreed at previous summit and their modification in light of implementation results.
 • As much as possible, the Summit Group does not intend to depend on the Yobe State Government for its finances and the provision of office accommodation. This independence is necessary so that the members can be seen to be providing purely voluntary service to their home state.

 MEMBERSHIP OF THE SUMMIT GROUP
 The members of the Summit Group were nominated because they are believed to be experts in their various fields. The Yobe State Economic Summit Group comprises of nine teams as listed above.        
 The summit is to comprise of two groups. The above is what, if you like, you can call the “Private Sector Group”. The government on its part is expected to form a counterpart Summit Group. For now, however, we wish to appeal to His Excellency to nominate one government official to join each of the teams. Later the Government Group can be expanded so that the summit will hold with government and private members equally represented. We want the summit report to be owned by all stakeholders so that implementation can be assured. We are also appealing to His Excellency, and members of the State Executive, to please assist us with any observation or suggestion so that we will have a faultless take-off.
Thank you very much.