President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice-President Kashim Shettima and other prominent Nigerian leaders are expected to converge on Abuja as stakeholders in the North-Central region begin efforts to develop a long-term economic and social blueprint for the zone.

The two-day North Central Stakeholders’ Development Summit is scheduled to hold on September 14 and 15, 2026, with discussions expected to centre on a proposed 20-year plan aimed at transforming the region’s economy, infrastructure and social development.

Former military Heads of State, including Generals Yakubu Gowon, Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar, are also expected to attend the summit alongside governors from the North-Central states.

The development was disclosed by the North Central Development Commission through its Head of Media and Corporate Communications, Dr Makut Macham, in a statement made available to journalists in Lafia, Nasarawa State.

The summit, which is the first of its kind organised by the commission, is themed “The Great Leap Forward: A 20-Year Economic, Infrastructural and Social Development Plan for the North-Central Region.”

According to the commission, the meeting is intended to bring together political leaders, government agencies, traditional rulers, private-sector investors, technocrats, academics, development partners, youth and women groups, persons with disabilities and other stakeholders with an interest in the future of the region.

The gathering is expected to provide an opportunity for participants to examine the major challenges confronting the North-Central and identify areas where long-term investments and coordinated policies can produce sustainable economic growth.

Chairman of the North Central Development Commission, Dr Cosmas Akighir, described the summit as a strategic platform for stakeholders to assess the region’s development opportunities and challenges while working towards a common direction for its transformation.

He said the event would bring together representatives from government, the private sector, development organisations, academia and civil society to develop a shared vision and practical framework for the sustainable development of the region.

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the commission, Dr Cyril Tsenyil, said the summit was deliberately organised to mobilise key stakeholders within and outside the region towards achieving the commission’s mandate.

Tsenyil added that the summit would also provide an avenue to align the development priorities of the North-Central with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Tinubu administration.

He explained that the proposed framework would focus on partnerships, investment opportunities and interventions capable of accelerating economic activity and improving living conditions for residents across the region.

The North-Central zone, made up of Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger and Plateau states as well as the Federal Capital Territory, has significant agricultural, mineral and human resources. However, the region has continued to face challenges including insecurity, inadequate infrastructure and economic hardship in several communities.

The commission’s planned 20-year development framework is therefore expected to provide a coordinated approach to addressing these challenges while taking advantage of the region’s economic potential.

The summit steering committee chairman, Suleiman Ali, also disclosed that the commission was working with its technical partner, Phillips Consulting, to ensure that the meeting produces meaningful outcomes capable of reflecting the aspirations of people across the North-Central.

The organisers are expected to use the summit to develop priorities that can guide government policies, private-sector investment and development interventions in the region over the next two decades.

With the participation of current and former national leaders, state governments, traditional institutions, businesses and other stakeholders, the summit is expected to serve as an important step towards creating a unified development vision for the North-Central region.