Former Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Vice-Chancellor, Ango Abdullahi, and political economist, Usman Bugaje, have called on Northern Nigeria to return to the core values of integrity, sacrifice and visionary leadership.
They said restoring these values is vital to tackling the region’s growing challenges.
The duo spoke on Saturday at the third Late Gen. Hassan Usman Katsina Memorial Conference at Arewa House, Kaduna. The event was themed: “From Sacrifice to Strategy: Rekindling Gen. Hassan Usman Katsina’s Vision for a Prosperous Northern Nigeria.”
Abdullahi said the North’s socio-economic and leadership problems largely came from abandoning the moral values passed down by its founding leaders.
He noted that although the region had recorded physical development, discipline, honesty, selflessness and accountability had declined.
“The North has lost its values. If we had preserved the values inherited from our parents and pioneer leaders, the region would not have found itself in its present situation,” he said.
Abdullahi urged leaders to revive the principles demonstrated by the late Gen. Hassan Katsina, especially integrity, service and responsible leadership.
In his keynote address, Bugaje said insecurity, poor agricultural output, rising poverty, weak institutions and declining social services were among the North’s major problems.
He said insecurity was hurting farming, trade and livelihoods, while questioning whether current leaders had the commitment needed to solve the crisis.
Bugaje urged northern elites to stop merely lamenting and instead offer practical solutions that can rebuild public trust and drive development.
The annual conference honours Hassan Katsina’s legacy while promoting dialogue on leadership, governance and Northern Nigeria’s future.
