Niger State Governor, Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu is to deliver a lecture next week at the Chatham House London on: “Nigeria’s Unity and Regional Socio-Political Groups: Influence and Impact of Northern States Governors’ Forum”.
The Governor would also at the Chatham House lead a discussion on the topic: “Potential for Reform and Responses to Nigeria’s Challenges: A State Government Perspective”.
The state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Alhaji Danladi Abdulhamid told a news conference in Minna? that the state executive council at its last meeting had approved that the governor should attend the programmes by virtue of the importance of the topics to Nigeria’s development and the position of Chatham House in charting international discourse.
He said that the council recognised that Governor Aliyu’s attendance of the programme would also boost the international image of the state and the country and assist to correct some impressions already created about Nigeria in the international community.
The audience at the Chatham House according to the commissioner are made up of policy and senior decision makers, business representatives, diplomats, civil society representatives, media and members of the academia and a summary of the presentations by Governor Aliyu would be published at the Chatham House website.
He said that Chatham House which was established in 1920 had grown to be recognised globally as a centre for research analysis and discussion of international affairs.
Abduhamid explained that the Africa programme at Chatham House started in July 2002 and so far President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia, Prime Minister Tony Blair of the UK, President John Kufuor of Ghana, President Lula da Silva of Brazil and President Gul of Turkey had? addressed the House and Aliyu would be the first Governor to address the House and the council considered it an honour.