Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago of Niger State took center stage at the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York, hosting the first-ever Niger Day to unveil the state’s ambitious 30-year vision for growth. The event drew global leaders, investors, policymakers, and the Nigerian diaspora, positioning Niger as a key player in Africa’s subnational transformation.
Bago, part of Nigeria’s delegation led by Vice President Kashim Shettima on behalf of President Bola Tinubu, kicked off the day with a call for homegrown solutions to drive inclusive progress. The program featured panel discussions on human capital development and agricultural transformation, built around four pillars: boosting livelihoods, fostering a sustainable economy, renewing urban areas while transforming rural ones, and strengthening good governance.
In a statement from the Niger Secretariat, the administration outlined goals to pull millions from poverty, spark world-class industries, modernize communities, and build transparent institutions. “This vision sets Niger as a blueprint for African states,” it said.
A standout moment was the signing of three Memoranda of Understanding to kickstart key initiatives. One with Salin 247 Inc. targets agricultural mechanization using AI and smart tech to modernize farming. Another, with Junior Achievement Nigeria, launches a School-to-Work program for youth empowerment and better school enrollment. The third, with Ethnomet Inc., rolls out 274 Virtual Primary Care Centres one per ward to overhaul healthcare delivery and training through digital tools.
“These deals lock in our drive to revamp agriculture, uplift young people, hike school numbers, and upgrade primary health, all with people at the heart,” the statement noted. Bago also joined side events like the US-Africa Trade Investment Conference (Tradelink 2025), economic roundtables, and forums on climate finance, health, and innovation, using the platform to lure investors into agriculture, trade, tech, and cultural ties under his New Niger agenda.
