As part of the induction programme for incoming and returning governors, President Muhammadu Buhari will give a keynote address to the gathering, including former officeholders.
The event, which will take place from May 15 to 19 and is organized by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, will feature 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 as special guests.
Dr Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, Director General of the World Trade Organization, Amina Jane Mohammed, Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations, and Dr Akinwumi Adesina of the African Development Bank are expected to deliver papers during the event.
In addition, 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 also expected to attend.
The induction programme is aimed at equipping the governors with the necessary tools for effective governance.
The statement read in part, “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 sub-national 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.”