Vice President Kashim Shettima has labeled the North-East as one of the world’s poorest regions, stressing the urgent need for intervention to tackle its severe poverty.
He commended the North-East Development Commission (NEDC) for prioritizing education, particularly the Accelerated Senior Secondary Education Programme (ASSEP), which he believes could be a transformative step in lifting the region out of poverty.
Speaking at the Presidential Villa in Abuja during a meeting with the NEDC management team, Shettima also warned that the region’s worsening economic conditions have contributed to escalating insecurity and instability.
He cited a World Bank report that classifies the North-East alongside Chad, Sudan’s Darfur region, Niger, and Northern Cameroon as some of the poorest places on earth.
“If the North-East were treated as a country, it would be poorer than Chad and Niger, and even Afghanistan. It is one of the poorest places on earth,” Shettima stated. “The emergence of militant groups like Boko Haram is a direct consequence of this deep-rooted poverty.”
He, however, hailed the NEDC for going beyond infrastructure development by investing in education and green technology, saying these interventions are critical to reversing the region’s economic decline.
“There are two things the NEDC is doing that posterity will judge kindly—this ASSEP program and investment in green technology. Infrastructure is important, but education is the real game changer,” he said.
Shettima particularly praised ASSEP’s use of Virtual Reality (VR) headsets, describing them as revolutionary tools that can bridge educational gaps and enhance digital learning.
“With just 100 teachers, we’re able to reach 600 teachers in 71 institutions.
In other parts of the world, they are investing in digital educational tools because of their numerous benefits—from improved knowledge retention to increased accessibility. This is how we can truly leapfrog into the industrial age,” he added.
The Vice President urged the NEDC, the Federal Ministry of Regional Development, and other stakeholders to strengthen collaboration for greater efficiency. He acknowledged that the commission faces criticism but praised its leadership for managing resources prudently.
“In Nigeria, when you are called a ‘difficult man,’ it means you are a stickler for rules and regulations.
The NEDC is one of the most scrutinized organizations in the country, but it is staying focused on its mission,” Shettima noted.
