Kano State is seeking to turn international goodwill into tangible progress at home, following a series of high-level engagements during the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 80) in New York.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf announced that Kano secured promising collaborations on school feeding programmes, healthcare interventions, and foreign investment opportunities through meetings with global development leaders and investors.
Represented at the UNGA High-Level Week by the Emir of Kano, His Highness Khalifah Muhammad Sanusi II, and the Director-General of the Kano State Investment Promotion Agency (Kan-Invest), Muhammad Halliru, the state delegation used the global platform to court partners for key social and economic initiatives.
On the sidelines of the Assembly, Emir Sanusi met with Kenyan social entrepreneur Wawira Njiru, founder and CEO of Food4Education, to discuss collaboration on large-scale school feeding programmes in Kano, including access to dedicated African Development Bank (AfDB) funding for nutrition initiatives.
Kano’s delegation also presented the state’s development priorities at the UN Global Compact: Unstoppable Africa Summit, the Cavista Holdings/Corporate Council on Africa Investment Forum, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s Goalkeepers Event, positioning Kano as a viable destination for investment and a partner for global development efforts.
Governor Yusuf, in a press statement by the Director General of Media Sanusi Batur, said these engagements underscore his administration’s strategy to link Kano’s development agenda to international partnerships.
“Our investment drive is already bearing fruit. By working with global partners, we are strengthening our economy, improving health and education, and laying the foundation for sustainable growth,” the governor said.
He announced plans to unveil a five-year multi-sectoral investment strategic plan to further attract investors, diversify revenue, and create opportunities for Kano’s 20-million-plus residents.
The governor commended Emir Sanusi for representing Kano “with distinction,” saying the Emir’s international standing gave the state’s advocacy greater weight in the global arena.
Kano’s renewed push for international collaboration aligns with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in education, health, and inclusive economic growth, and reflects a broader trend of Nigerian sub-national governments seeking direct global partnerships to accelerate local development.