NEDC: Dr. Goni’s Stellar Performance and a New North East by Kolawole Anthony 

By every standard of evaluation, it would not be wrong to say that Dr Mohamed Alkali Goni’s current tenure as the Managing Director/Chief Executive officer of the North East Development Commission NEDC in the last four years was epic. 

Through dint of hard work, and commitment to serve, the astute administrator has imprinted his name on the sand of time as an exemplary manager of men and materials.     

Shortly after assumption of duties in 2019 as the pioneer chief executive officer of the interventionist agency, Dr. Goni went into action by unveiling a number of proactive measures aimed at expediting action on the master plan of the commission which seeks to identify the need of the North East region and to articulate strategies and policies in order to provide remedial intervention measures on short and long-term basis towards reconstructing the crises ravaged communities in the region.                          

 Established on October 27th 2017, the North East Development Commission NEDC is mandated to assess, coordinate, harmonize and report all intervention programs, and initiatives by the Federal Government, states and other development partners for the reconstruction of the North East states of Adamawa, Taraba, Borno, Bauchi, Gombe and Yobe respectively.  

 And in less than four years, Dr. Goni’s quality leadership pedigree reflected in the achievement of the commission in the area of social infrastructure, Education, health, rural roads and partnership with local and international Agencies.             

Despite the stifling fiscal encumbrances occasioned by bureaucratic bottle – neck, Dr. Goni stellar

For instance, his projection to ensure that all 112 local government areas across the six North East states were adequately captured in project distribution was responsible for the creation of the Rapid Response Initiative RRI.

 Under the initiative, a comprehensive master plan to holistically rebuild the region was birthed. 

In fact, most of the projects mapped out in the plan were part of the early recovery action envisaged by the commission and were majorly targeted at returning simple infrastructure such as public institution structures, boreholes and culverts that were destroyed by the insurgents during the unrest.   

 Dr. Goni was clear on his determination to rebuild the ravaged North East region as he maintains a modicum of sanity and transparency in the affairs of the regional interventionist Agency. 

And this he demonstrated by engaging nearly twelve thousand youths and women in skills acquisition, information Technology ICT skills and vocational training. 

Also, 5000 undergraduates, 336 master degree students and 54 doctorate degrees students were also funded with 10%  scholarship grants. 

Beneficiaries of these training and scholarship were drawn from each of the 1,028 council wards in the North East states.                                                                                          

Through his dogged determination and insistence on openness, probity, transparency and accountability, the NEDC was able to support resettled communities with integrated Agricultural programs. 

Each of the 112 local government areas were funded with #50 million Naira as an intervention, an effort which boosted the economy and general livelihood of the people.   

Given his zero tolerance for corruption and ineptitude, Dr. Goni embarked on the completion of abandoned projects across the region, as well as the reconstruction of schools and hospitals destroyed in the wake of the insurgency. 

ICT centres were constructed to engage the youths who were still struggling to align with the realities of everyday existence.               

Although, the core mandate of the North East Development Commission NEDC is to recover, stabilize and develop the region as a direct response to the devastation and violence occasioned by the activities of insurgents and the phenomenal destruction since 2009 when the Boko Haram began its violent campaign in Nigeria, the NEDC under the leadership of Dr. Mohamed Alkali Goni has achieved milestones that will shape the future of the region for good.

Kolawole PhD wrote this piece from Nasarawa State University Keffi.