…As Northern leaders gather to chart new future
Aminu Imam
All roads lead to Abuja today, as policymakers, business leaders, media executives, academics, security experts and development stakeholders converge for the 2nd Liberty Symposium, a high-level gathering aimed at crafting a new development roadmap for Northern Nigeria.
The symposium, convened by Liberty Media Group scheduled for today Tuesday, at the iconic Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, is expected to ignite critical conversations on governance, economic transformation, security, constitutional reforms and the strategic role of the media in shaping the region’s future.
With the theme: ‘Re-Imagining the North: Media, Productive Power and the Making of the Next Northern Nigeria’, the event comes amid growing calls for innovative solutions to the challenges confronting the region, including insecurity, poverty, unemployment, displacement, communal conflicts and weakening social cohesion.
Executive Chairman of Liberty Media Group, Alhaji (Dr.) Tijjani Ramalan, who conceived the initiative, described the symposium as more than a conference, saying it is a strategic intervention designed to reposition Northern Nigeria for sustainable growth, competitiveness and peace.
According to Ramalan, the North stands at a defining moment in its political, economic and social evolution and must deliberately harness its enormous human and natural resources to shape Nigeria’s future. “The question before us is no longer whether Northern Nigeria can rise. The question is how to build a North that is secure, productive, competitive and united within an evolving Nigerian federation”, he said.
He noted that despite years of insurgency, banditry, farmer-herder conflicts, economic disruptions and other security challenges, the region remains endowed with vast agricultural resources, solid minerals, entrepreneurial talent, innovation and cultural assets capable of driving prosperity if effectively mobilised.
Ramalan explained that this year’s symposium is built around three interconnected pillars — media, governance and productive economic power — which he identified as critical foundations for sustainable development and lasting peace. He argued that economic opportunity, inclusion, accountability and responsible public narratives are essential ingredients for stability, stressing that conflict often flourishes where productivity is weak.
The Liberty Media Group Chairman further called for a redefinition of the role of the media, urging Northern-owned media organisations to evolve beyond conventional reporting into active development institutions capable of strengthening social cohesion, mobilising investment confidence and promoting enterprise growth. “The media should serve as perception capital, growth catalysts and platforms for enterprise visibility and policy engagement,” he stated.
The symposium is expected to feature robust discussions on constitutional restructuring, governance reforms, regional competitiveness, sub-national collaboration, state policing and broader questions concerning Nigeria’s federal structure. Participants will also examine strategies for economic revitalisation, public-private partnerships (PPP), regional cooperation and inclusive communication frameworks aimed at strengthening peace-building efforts across the North.
A formidable array of stakeholders are expected distinguished guests, which include: the Northern Governors’ Forum, the three regional development Commissions, media guilds, regulatory bodies, civil society organisations, business leaders, security experts, academics, youth voices and community representatives — a breadth of participation that signals the event’s ambition to produce outcomes with real policy traction.
Expected outcomes include actionable policy recommendations, stronger frameworks for regional cooperation, enhanced economic development strategies and renewed commitments toward building a peaceful, productive and prosperous Northern region.
