The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have strengthened their partnership to boost sustainable investment and stimulate state-level economic growth across the country.
Yunusa Abdullahi, Director of Media and Strategic Communications at the NGF, announced this in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja.
Abdullahi explained that the renewed commitment followed a visit by a high-level UNDP delegation, led by Ms. Elsie Attafuah, the organisation’s Resident Representative in Nigeria, to the NGF Secretariat on Wednesday.
According to him, discussions during the visit focused on unlocking innovative financing models to help subnational governments mobilise investments and address critical infrastructure and fiscal capacity gaps in the 36 states.
Both institutions agreed to formalise their partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which will outline technical support and pilot interventions in selected states.
The collaboration will centre on establishing a Subnational Development Finance Lab, creating a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Competency Framework, and developing a State Investment Readiness Index to assess competitiveness.
Dr. Abdulateef Shittu, Director General of the NGF, described the engagement as a “timely step in advancing Nigeria’s subnational development agenda.”
“We value UNDP’s partnership in helping states become more competitive and investment-ready. Our goal is to create a pathway where subnational governments can independently attract, manage, and sustain investments that directly impact lives and livelihoods,” Shittu said.
He pointed to the recent launch of “Investopedia,” a digital investment intelligence platform featuring more than 269 investment-ready projects across states, as evidence that subnational governments are prepared to drive national transformation.
Shittu noted that the next stage of the partnership will prioritise strengthening states’ fiscal and institutional capacity to attract long-term financing. It will also involve setting up frameworks for blended and innovative finance and building a pipeline of bankable projects aligned with national and global sustainability goals.
He expressed confidence that the partnership would be transformative, positioning state governments as key players in shaping Nigeria’s development narrative.
UNDP’s Resident Representative, Ms. Attafuah, described the initiative as a continuation of the organisation’s long-standing collaboration with Nigeria to promote inclusive, equitable, and sustainable development, ensuring “no state is left behind.”
She reaffirmed UNDP’s support in five priority sectors—agriculture, energy transition, healthcare, education, and the digital economy—stressing that these areas offer the greatest potential for measurable impact.
“This engagement is about helping states convert their opportunities into tangible investments that create jobs, expand access, and build resilience,” Attafuah stated.
Dr. Raymond Gilpin, Chief Economist for Africa and Head of the UNDP Economists’ Network, commended the NGF’s leadership and stressed the importance of strategic frameworks that combine capital mobilisation, governance reforms, and data-driven planning.
He added that the partnership aims to develop sustainable financing mechanisms that blend public and private capital while ensuring inclusivity and transparency in implementation.