The Northern Youth Assembly (Majalisar Matasan Arewa) has expressed deep disappointment with the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) for suspending the forum’s Executive Chairman, Mr. Mamman Mike Osuman, SAN. The suspension was reportedly due to Osuman’s criticism of President Bola Tinubu’s administration and its policies, which the assembly claims have led to widespread hardship in the country.

In a press release, the Northern Youth Assembly stated that Osuman was suspended for speaking out against the anti-citizen policies of the Tinubu administration, particularly those affecting the people of the North. “It is really true that the Tinubu-led administration’s anti-people policies have led to widespread and untold hardship in the country,” the assembly noted.

The assembly, representing youth from the nineteen Northern states, criticized the ACF BOT for failing to amplify the voices of the masses and instead acting as agents protecting the Tinubu government. “It is rather shameful that the ACF, which is presumably expected to be on the side of the masses, would resort to such incivility and undemocratic action against one of its respected leaders,” the statement read.

The Northern Youth Assembly condemned the ACF BOT’s decision, describing it as a clear indication that the forum is not for the Arewa masses who bear the brunt of these anti-human policies. “The shameful action of the Arewa Consultative Forum, through the BOT, is a clear indication that ACF is not for the Arewa masses,” the assembly asserted.

The press release highlighted the shock and disappointment felt by the assembly upon receiving the statement signed by Alhaji Bashir Muhammad Dalhatu (Wazirin Dutse) and Alhaji Murtala Aliyu (Matawallen Gombe), ACF BOT Chairman and Secretary General, respectively. “The statement was indeed the highest order of disregard to the plight of the masses,” the assembly stated.

The assembly accused the ACF BOT of acting to please President Tinubu for self-serving interests and political ambition, despite the growing tendency of the president to persecute the people of Northern Nigeria. “The action against the personality of the chairman was impliedly aimed at pleasing President Ahmed Bola Tinubu,” the assembly alleged.

The Northern Youth Assembly called for the immediate lifting of Osuman’s suspension and the restoration of his powers and honor within the next seven days. “We shall be left with no other option but to mobilize the youths from the nineteen Northern states to take over the ACF secretariat in Kaduna,” the assembly warned.

The assembly concluded by expressing its strong opinion that Nigerians deserve better than what they are getting under the current administration and hinted at the possibility of supporting a new capable leader from the Northern region in the 2027 elections. “Unless necessary measures are taken to address these concerns, it won’t be out of place if a Northern Nigerian regional campaign is launched to call and support the emergence of a new capable person from the Northern Nigerian region come 2027,” the assembly stated.

The press release was signed by various representatives from the nineteen Northern states, including Usman Alhaji Musa (Yobe State), Sulaiman Idris Yusuf (Kano State), and Aminu Shehu (Jigawa State), among others.

Family-owned businesses (FOBs) can continue to drive economic success, create value for shareholders, and positively impact their communities worldwide by staying true to their core values and adopting strategic practices that prioritise long-term growth, efficiency, and resilience. This was part of the submission made by Halima Aliko-Dangote, Group Executive Director of Dangote Industries Limited, during the Forbes Global CEO Conference in Bangkok, Thailand.

Halima, who is also the Executive Director, Family Office, spoke at the panel session on Family Business: Looking at the Next Frontier, opined that family-owned businesses have demonstrated exceptional resilience, navigating challenges and thriving over multiple decades.  Other speakers include Carolyn Choo, Managing Director and CEO of Worldwide Hotels; Rose Damen, Managing Director of Damen Yachting, third-generation family shareholder of Damen Shipyards Group; and Caroline Link, Co-Chairman of B.GRIMM Pharma, President of B. Grimm Joint Venture, and Board Member of B. Grimm Power.

She stated that  success in family-owned businesses starts with shared values, goals, governance policies and alignment adding that reputation is part of Family Capital. According to her, governance structure, adherence to core values, customer satisfaction, optimization of shareholder value, meritocracy, integrity, leadership, brand equity, diversification/growth, philanthropy and preserving generational wealth play key roles to the success of our businesses.

She opined that Dangote Group’s governance policies do not allow board and management to operate in silos as each business unit have at least three independent directors that will give a holistic view.

Speaking on other factors of success for Dangote Group, Halima emphasized, “We family-owned businesses have to stick to our tradition of asset rich-cash moderate or as my father will correct me, asset rich-cash poor. We as Dangote perpetuate a profitable business with strong values and strong governance structure. We make money while building our nation by contributing heavily to the global economy, creating massive jobs, thinking of our great grand kids and contributing  excessively to humanity.”

Highlighting the significant contribution of FOBs to the global economy, Halima noted that studies by Mckinsey showed  that they account for more than 70% of global GDP, generate annual turnovers of between $60 trillion and $70 trillion, and provide around 60% of global employment. She stressed the crucial role these businesses play in creating jobs, sustaining communities, and driving development in sectors such as manufacturing, education, healthcare, and infrastructure across the world.

“Family-owned businesses (FOBs) have proven to be resilient, weathering challenges and thriving across multiple decades. Despite facing external pressures, many FOBs not only survive but also grow, contributing significantly to the global economy in ways that are often underestimated or overlooked,” she said.

She also pointed out that family-owned businesses often employ two key approaches in preparing the next generation for leadership roles: internal and external capacity building. Regarding internal capacity building, Halima explained that many families create internship programmes for young family members interested in taking over the business or assuming leadership positions.

In Nigeria, we  train the next generation so they can grow organically  to  leadership roles in family businesses. My dad’s approach is for you to start from ground up knowing you will get to leadership role if you work hard and do your job right. These experiences  make it easier for you to learn the ropes and be prepared for leadership role in the future,” she said.

On external capacity building, Halima discussed the practice of sending younger generations to work in non-family businesses. This approach enables them to acquire new skills, learn better processes, and gain diverse perspectives that can benefit the family business in the long run adding that she started her career as an Analyst at KPMG before joining Dangote Industries Limited.

The approach she explained “removes the familiarity tag as the young generation got employed as other people and supervised to monitor their performance. This has been a common avenue business families have chosen to pursue for many years, having their next generation spend three to five years working outside the family business before eventually joining with a new set of skills and business knowledge.”

Addressing the challenges of succession planning, Halima emphasised the importance of involving the younger generation in the business early on. She suggested that this creates a space for open communication, where the next generation can share their thoughts, ideas, and aspirations, while the senior generation provides critical information to help the next leaders make informed decisions.

She stressed the need for a balance between tradition and innovation in family-owned businesses. While tradition provides continuity and stability, she noted that innovation is vital to staying relevant and competitive in the modern marketplace.

“Successful family businesses recognise the need to adapt to changing consumer preferences, technological advancements, and market trends. Family businesses often have a wealth of experience and deep-rooted traditions. They can also benefit from external expertise and fresh perspectives,” she concluded.

The Federal Government has announced the approval of a groundbreaking N4 trillion budget for development commissions across the country. The funds aim to accelerate regional development and address critical infrastructure gaps in underserved areas.

This landmark decision was confirmed during a federal executive meeting chaired by President Bola Tinubu. According to officials, the allocation is targeted at bolstering the activities of existing development commissions, including those in the North East, Niger Delta, North Central, and other regions requiring special intervention.

Focus Areas of the Budget
The N4 trillion will reportedly focus on key development priorities such as:

Infrastructure rehabilitation, including roads, bridges, and power supply.

Support for internally displaced persons (IDPs) and resettlement programs.

Job creation initiatives to tackle unemployment in affected regions.

Social programs aimed at healthcare, education, and capacity building.

Government’s Commitment
Speaking on the development, the Minister of Finance, Mr. Wale Edun, stated that the budget reflects the administration’s commitment to fostering inclusive growth and equitable resource distribution. “This is a bold step to address longstanding challenges in regions that have been neglected for years,” he remarked.

The announcement has sparked mixed reactions across the country. While some citizens and regional leaders have praised the move as a step toward addressing inequalities, others have called for transparent implementation to ensure the funds are utilized effectively.

This allocation marks one of the largest investments in regional development commissions in Nigeria’s history, signaling the government’s intent to bridge the gaps in infrastructure and social welfare.

Stay tuned for more updates as details of the implementation strategy emerge.